The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

Gao Ruona's memorial was placed on Zhao Zhen's desk, and this fellow tearfully accused Su Jin of his atrocities, saying how Su Jin tortured himself by pretending to be public and benefiting himself, and how he didn't take the emperor seriously. , Ask the emperor to call the shots for him.

Zhao Zhen threw the memorial aside in disgust, and sat at the desk to meditate. After returning to Beijing, Zuo Daoying told him in detail what he saw and heard in Mingzhu City, although Su Jin changed the middle chamber into a palace Reporting the matter to Zhao Zhen was clearly an act of disavowal, and anyone with a discerning eye could see that it was Su Jin's remedy. Su Jin's move was not clever, but at least it gave Zhao Zhen something to say.

Zhao Zhen also thought about whether he was too thoughtful, and Su Jin would never dare to commit any treasonous behavior. The fact that the layout of the middle room imitated the layout of the palace may be due to Su Jin's nerves. In other words, Su Jin didn't understand the above taboos at all. After all, Su Jin's qualifications as an official were still young, and he was sent to the northwest after staying in the capital for less than half a year. He didn't understand the etiquette of the court at all.

And having said that, even imitating the layout of the palace doesn't necessarily mean that there is something different, and I am obviously a little nervous.Now Su Jin took Gao Ruona as a knife and sent him to the border to build a city. This was an indirect expression of his dissatisfaction. Zhao Zhen understood that after this incident, the rift between himself and Su Jin became bigger and bigger. There are quite a lot of complaints in the dark, and now it has almost risen to express dissatisfaction on the surface.

To be honest, Zhao Zhen is unwilling to have a worsening relationship with Su Jin. Su Jin is a capable person, and this needs to be proved. The results are often very disappointing to Zhao Zhen. Of course, except for the New Deal, Su Jin's straightforwardness makes Zhao Zhen very embarrassing. [

Zhao Zhen began to seriously think and weigh, whether to suppress Su Jin's domineering for the sake of face, or to revise the relationship with Su Jin and let him manage the Northwest for him so that he can rest easy?

The answer seems to be obvious. Under the current situation, the Northwest must be stabilized. In recent days, the court has focused its discussions on the rebellion of Nong Zhigao in the south of Lingnan. Annihilation, but did not expect consecutive defeats, Nong Zhigao's rebels have grown bigger and bigger like a snowball, seven or eight counties in the south of Guangnan West Road have all been occupied by the rebels, and the situation has reached the point where it cannot be handled the point.

At this time, the stability of the Northwest is particularly important. If Han Qi and Fan Zhongyan were still in the Northwest before, it would be fine without Su Jin. Of course, it is not impossible to recall it for reuse, but if it is recalled, there will be no place to put the face of the emperor, and the courtiers will definitely oppose it desperately. military power.

Then there is no one else who can take on the task of stabilizing the Northwest except Su Jin. Originally, Zhao Zhen had thought that if Su Jin was really difficult to control, he could promote Di Qing, who had performed well in the battle against Xixia, to replace Su Jin. A suggestion has been made to recall Di Qing to lead troops south to conquer Nong Zhigao's rebels. The northwest needs to employ people, and the south also needs to employ people. It can only be Di Qingnan and Su Jin in the northwest.

Zhao Zhenfa can imagine that although he was very angry with Su Jin, he still drew up an imperial decree, expressing his praise to Su Jin for building the palace for himself, and at the same time generously expressing that in order to prevent the palace from being left idle, Su Jin can bring his subordinates to continue Living in the middle room, making the best use of everything; at the same time, Zhao Zhen also thoughtfully sent Su Jin a set of crown robes. Zhao Zhen vaguely remembered that Su Jin once told him that in October this year, Su Jin will be 20 years old On his birthday, in the year of the weak crown, the emperor personally presented the crown robe and gifts, and bestowed the word 'Zicong', which can somewhat calm An Sujin's heart and calm down the resentment in his heart.

Of course, Zhao Zhen did not forget Gao Ruona. Su Jin has the ability to rebuild Weizhou City and seven or eight fortresses without a penny from the court. How can Gao Ruona have that ability? If Jin Zhen could kill him with this excuse, wouldn't he be even more humiliated by then? So Zhao Zhen secretly sent someone to send 30 guan to Gao Ruona, ordering him to complete the city wall and not to talk to Su in the future. Jin confronted head-on, which relieved Gao Ruona's urgent need.

Zhao Zhen's series of goodwill made Su Jin feel a little calmer. At least Zhao Zhen still cared about his own feelings. Of course, Su Jin would never be so stupid as to bring everyone into the Zhongxiang Palace again. No one would think that it was the emperor who wanted Su Jin to live in him. They would only say that the thief Su Jin had the audacity to hide evil intentions and acted beyond the rules of etiquette. Since Su Jin was wary, he would naturally not make such low-level mistakes.

Su Jin's birthday is the tenth day of October. On this morning, after eating longevity noodles, wearing the crown robe and dress sent by the emperor, and paying homage to his mother and ancestors at home, he is considered an official adult; , can also be regarded as the official head of the family.

The whole Su family is naturally very happy. From a 16-year-old tired boy in Luzhou to a senior official in Northwest China who has a lot of power, Su Jin only took four years while others have to go for 40 years. It's just a myth, but this myth is living with them alive, and it's unbelievable to think about it every day.

For the last time, Su Jin asked Huan Niang to gently cut off the light beard that came out. From today on, Su Jin can grow a beard, like an adult man in the Song Dynasty with a beautiful beard and a weak crown without a beard Those who would be mistaken for eunuchs.

Compared with everyone's solemnity, Su Jin himself didn't feel much. At the age of 20, he had passed it long ago. After time-traveling, the real soul hidden in this body was already 23. Four years later, The souls inside are already 27 years old; later generations have not overemphasized the ritual of weak crowns, and the so-called adult standards are not fixed. Most people have already become adults in elementary and junior high schools, of course, referring to physical adults.

There is no birthday cake, no candles to make a wish, no one can sing the happy birthday song, and Su Jin has no regrets, because he has already prepared a gift for himself on the day of his weak crown. My son came to the main street of Mingzhu City. After entering the Inner Ring Road, the accompanying wives and concubines suddenly found colorful flags flying at the intersection in front of them. It seemed that there was some happy event.

At first, they thought it was a store opening, but when they saw Li Chong standing beside the road with a smile, leading a group of officials to welcome Su Jin and his party, everyone realized that it was definitely not a store opening.

"Oh, my lords have been waiting for a long time."

Su Jin smiled and cupped his hands and stepped forward, Li Chong greeted him with smiles from all his subordinates: "Congratulations, my lord, on the joy of being weak."

Su Jin smiled and said: "We are all happy together. From now on, you can call me my nickname in private. The emperor gave me my nickname 'Zicong', everyone, please remember."

Everyone said yes again and again, and someone praised: "Su Zicong, it is a good match with your lord, your lord is clever and flexible, it just fits this word, the emperor seems to understand your lord very well."

Su Jin smiled and said: "In the evening, we have prepared bouillon at Eighth Street and Fenglou, and all the adults are here to enjoy it."

Everyone hurriedly said: "My lord forbids me to give gifts and congratulations, how can I have the face to drink?"

Su Jin said with a smile: "What did you say? Today's event is the best congratulatory gift; I specially brought my family here to experience the first public carriage in Pearl City. This is a big event."

Li Chong said with a chuckle: "According to your lord's idea, a total of 50 horse-drawn carriages will be put into the city, each with three sections and [-] seats. The inside, middle and outside are line [-], line [-], and line [-] in turn, and [-] liang of horse-drawn carriages will be put in each. There are more than [-] vehicles in the Twelfth Main Street, and there is a stop sign for each mile, and you can get on the bus if you get off the sign, and you will pay a penny to get on the bus; everything is ready, but with the order of the adults, the bus and carriages in the whole city can start.”

Su Jin laughed loudly and said, "Okay, bring the gong."

Li Chong hurriedly ordered someone to deliver a copper gong, and Su Jin held the gong wrapped in red cloth high and dropped it heavily, with a loud bang, the crowd cheered.

Hearing the sound of horseshoes, an open carriage with three sections and fifteen seats slowly approached along the street. Su Jin lifted the hem and pulled the wives and concubines into the carriage, and ordered Xiao Sui'er to go to a locked iron box next to the driver according to the number of people. Seven or eight copper coins were cast at the opening of the crack, but seeing the driver whipped his whip, the horse kicked and neighed vigorously, and galloped forward along the wide street.