The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

(Thanks to the monthly tickets of the two book friends Samsung Display and Countryside Kite!)

After several years of war, the roads in the Northwest are like a reborn phoenix, showing a new look.

After the Battle of Weizhou last year, Su Jin ordered the state capitals to shift their focus to resume production. Although the farming season has passed after the Battle of Weizhou and the rice law is mature, wheat can still be planted. Under the circumstances, a large number of wheat seeds supported by the third division were sown in the autumn on the war-baptized northwest land.

The hero Li Chong had a place to use, and Su Jin gave him full authority to manage the farming and mulberry affairs on the Jingyuan Qinfeng Road.

The policy of fortifying the walls and clearing the wilderness during the war was also changed accordingly. The people gathered in the walled cities also chose to return to the land. Except for a small number of people who have adapted to the life in the town, the vast majority of the people still choose to return to the villages and fields. Living the days of farming they are familiar with, in the eyes of these people, this time in the city is a nightmare. [

Su Jin is also actively creating employment opportunities, so that tens of thousands of urban residents who have lost their livelihoods have the opportunity to support themselves. In addition to the construction of the border defense system allocated by the imperial court, which requires a large number of civilians, Su Jin also takes advantage of the opportunity to go to the capital. Invite merchants from the capital to open stores in the northwest to do business.

There are also many specialties in the Northwest. Chinese medicinal materials such as fur and meat are also abundant due to the bordering of He Xixia. Although they have been harassed by the war, some industries in Qinzhou, Longzhou, Minzhou and other places in the rear have not been completely destroyed. After the peace talks The decree prohibiting trade with Xixia, these things naturally became popular; coupled with the tax exemption policy promised by Su Jin, many mainland businessmen came to the Northwest to set up branch offices one after another, which greatly eased the pressure on employment. .

Suji's horse farms, mines, Yinzhuang, and newly opened clothing stores, cloth stores, and grain stores also absorbed five to six thousand local people for employment.

Before and after the new year in the fourth year of Qingli, after several months of operation, the people's livelihood was basically guaranteed, the people's hearts stabilized, and the traces of the war left on this land gradually faded.

The New Year in the fourth year of Qingli is a rare and comfortable New Year for people from all walks of life in the Northwest, so that the festive atmosphere is still strong during the ten days until the night of Shangyuan.

During the period from the New Year to the Shangyuan period, there must be such lively energy. Su Ji hopes that the people will temporarily forget the memories of the past suffering in the joy, and devote themselves to the new life. For this reason, he does not hesitate to spend a lot of money. Decorate lanterns, festoons, dance lions and swim dragons in the state capitals of their respective states, and have fun with the common people.

During these more than ten days of festivals, Su Jin also put aside all distracting thoughts and shared family happiness with his wife and children at home. After this year, he will be 20 years old after his birthday in October. This is already the first time he has come to this era. Three New Years, three years, whether it is long or short, I have survived from being a son of a merchant in Luzhou to becoming a member of the Northwest today. Second life and more than 1000 years of experience and knowledge beyond this era.

On the night of Shangyuan, a family of more than ten people guessed lantern riddles, watched fireworks, and had fun in the garden. The little tiger has passed a hundred days, and has become more and more lively and cute. Under the care of the girls and stars, he is smiling I peed my pants several times.

When the atmosphere was warm, the gate was slammed untimely, and the gatekeeper opened the small door to ask questions. It turned out to be a female family member, about thirty years old, looking sad and dusty, but the clothes were very luxurious , with maids and servants by her side.

The gatekeeper took the name card and handed it to the mistress Yan Biyun. Yan Biyun glanced at it and said in surprise, "Why is my sister here? Why did she come to Qinzhou?"

Everyone noticed something different and fell silent. Yan Biyun handed the name card to Su Jin, who was sitting on a big chair with Erlang's legs crossed, and said, "My husband, please look, my cousin is here. Qgu is here. My cousin is in the capital. Why are you here?" It's time to come to Qinzhou to look for us, why not just write a letter if you have something to do?"

Su Jin smiled and said: "Maybe it's the Chinese New Year visiting relatives, it's very cold, are you going to let your cousin stand outside the door to blow the cold wind?"

Yan Biyun hurriedly said: "Please, please come in quickly."

The gatekeeper hurriedly ran out, and everyone straightened up their clothes and stood waiting at the gate of the garden. After a while, Yan Shuzhen, Yan Biyun's cousin and Yan Shu's eldest daughter, rushed in like a gust of wind. Hugged her and burst into tears.

Everyone was dumbfounded. Why did this cousin cry when they met? It's too unruly and unlucky for the Chinese New Year; What happened to my sister? Is it my uncle?"

Yan Shuzhen shook her head in tears and said, "It's not Daddy, Daddy is fine."

Yan Biyun hurriedly said: "Then what's the matter with you? You came all the way to Qinzhou, what happened?"

Yan Shuzhen couldn't help crying, sobbing and trembling all over, Su Jin hurriedly said: "Let my cousin sit down and rest for a while, Xian'er makes a bowl of hot ginger soup to warm her body, I am afraid I have been on my way, My whole body is freezing."

Everyone helped Yan Shuzhen to sit down, and brought ginger soup for her to drink, but Yan Shuzhen didn't drink it, she just shed tears, and suddenly she got up and knelt down in front of Su Jin, crying: "Little uncle, help me, please help me!" The slave family is here to ask for your help." [

Su Jin was taken aback, and quickly asked someone to help her up and said, "Sister, if you have something to say, just say it, it's all from my own family, wouldn't you kill me for such a big ceremony?"

Yan Shuzhen sobbed and said: "I know that my family officials have been having some unpleasant troubles with my son-in-law recently, but we are relatives after all, and my son-in-law is also a large number of people, so I won't hold grudges against him; this time, I will ask my son-in-law to save my family." , My family is in great trouble."

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Su Jin didn't know why, so he hurriedly asked, "What happened?"

Yan Shuzhen told Su Jin the whole story with sobs, and finally said with tears: "How can my family officials have the intention of treason? It must be framed by traitors. Now that official Shi has been captured by the Dali Temple. Take it away for interrogation, although the officials have not been interrogated, but I am afraid it is not far away; this crime of treason is a serious crime, and there is the letter from Lao Shizi as evidence, once Mr. Shi speaks to testify, our family will All ten will die."

Everyone was stunned, Qi Qi gasped, and Su Jin was also stunned. I didn't expect such a thing to happen. Shi Jie wrote a letter to persuade Fu Bi to abolish the monarch and establish a new one. No matter how unreliable it sounds, Su Jin Jin's first reaction was that Fu Bi was being plotted against. This time, the person who attacked Fu Bi wanted to put Fu Bi to death. The crime of treason was the crime of killing even the nine clans. Once convicted, Yan Shu would not be able to run away.

"What does Master Fu say?" Su Jin walked a few steps with his hands behind his back and turned around and asked.

"The officials were very angry. When they saw the emperor, they wanted to argue, but the emperor didn't see him. The officials said that those who are clear will be turbid, and those who are clear will be turbid. The emperor will not believe such tricks."

Su Jin sighed: "Brother Fu still has that temper. I would rather believe it or not. The emperor even took Shi Jie, so he obviously believed it. If you don't prove your innocence at this time, you are waiting for death; Once this incident happened, there must be many people jumping out and demanding severe punishment, Brother Fu is too naive."

Yan Shuzhen cried: "That's why I drove for four days to ask my young uncle to help my family officials to excuse me. My family officials are stubborn, and he will never prove his innocence by himself."

Su Jin frowned and said, "Did Prime Minister Yan not plan to save him?"

Yan Shuzhen said: "Father must avoid suspicion. He is the prime minister, and his son-in-law is the one who committed the crime. For example, Yan's mansion is also involved at the foot of the mountain. Wouldn't it make things worse if he mixed it up? Father asked himself to resign because of this matter. , the emperor did not agree, but said that in order to avoid suspicion, father should not ask about it, and we will talk about it after everything is clarified."

Su Jin is aware of the seriousness of the problem. There are signs that Zhao Zhen seems to have some faith in this matter. That is the hardest part. Once Zhao Zhen believes it and someone stirs up the flames, it is very likely that even if there is no conclusive evidence, He will also take on Fu Bi. In this kind of matter, Zhao Zhen will never be soft.

Su Jin hesitated for a long time, couldn't figure out the clues of the matter, and fell silent, Yan Shuzhen knelt down again and said: "Little uncle, at present, only you can save my husband's life. If you don't, our family will have no hope. Of course, the slave family also knows the difficulties of the young uncle, and everyone avoids these things, and it is understandable that the young uncle refuses to agree, the slave family is too selfish, and should have thought of this episode."

Yan Biyun comforted softly: "Sister, don't worry, my husband can't help him, let him think of a way."

Su Jin understands that the best way to deal with this matter is to be wise and safe, but if he does this, he will be a coward for the rest of his life, not to mention how the officials and colleagues will treat him, even Yan Biyun and the others He will also look down on himself; but if he gets involved in this matter, if he doesn't make it right, he will cause a lot of trouble. If he is excused for it, then his life will be ruined. Zhao Zhen will never be involved in this matter. Being especially kind to someone, maybe he even suspects himself and Yan Shu now.

"Who asked you to come to me to save Mr. Fu? Master Fan and Mr. Han have always had a good relationship with Mr. Fu, and they are the emperor's favorite people. You didn't ask them to speak?"

"I have gone to my family, but Master Fan and Master Han said that they can't help, so they can only find out the facts secretly, because someone has already reported that Master Fan, Master Han, and Master Ouyang and my husband formed a clique together and became The small group that colluded with each other, if Lord Han and Lord Fan came forward at this time, wouldn't it be just for others to catch up?"

Su Jin took another breath. It seems that the goal this time is not only Fu Bi, but also to wipe out all the people who implemented the New Deal. Han Qi, Fu Bi, Ouyang Xiu and others formed cronies; once Han Fan exonerated him, it just proved that they were a gang in collusion with each other, and the cronies' discussion was confirmed.

The crime of collusion with cronies is not much less than treason. Soon after the Taizu took office in the world, he took Li Tang Shiniu and Li's party disputes as a lesson, and issued an edict saying: Anyone who has passed the exam is strictly prohibited from calling the examiner as an examiner. Mentors and teachers are not allowed to call themselves disciples.In fact, it is strictly forbidden to form a party. Later, Taizong Zhenzong issued edicts to reiterate this point many times; Zhao Zhen also issued many edicts to "abstain from cliques" after he ascended the throne, so it can be seen that cliques colluded to control the government. A bottom line, once crossing the line, will be severely punished, no wonder Han Fan Ouyang Xiu and others dare not come forward.