Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 13 What a character!

Dong Jian stood aside and asked, "Captain, the county magistrate will not blame you for this, right?"

Su Wu only replied: "The county magistrate looked at me before making his decision, and asked for my opinion, and left it open for me to speak..."

"Ah?" Dong Jian naturally didn't understand.

Wu Song was also scratching his head and thinking, this matter requires some thinking.

Meng Yi is not a good or bad person. He just regards his position as an official very well and is a veteran in the officialdom.

He obviously did not want to get involved in these trivial matters. If Su Wu wanted to fight with others, he would let Su Wu go. If he did not want to fight, he would also let Su Wu deal with it.

Meng Yi also knew who was really running around in the yamen. Meng Yi also really valued the merit of risking his life to kill the tiger. It was the same as how he found a way to save the life of Wu Song, who had killed several people.

These things actually have nothing to do with the magistrate. As for the lieutenant general and the like, in Meng Yi's opinion, what are warriors?
Su Wu obviously knew too well what kind of person Meng Yi was.

Not long after, Ximen Qing came back, bringing with him a box. He stopped smiling and just said, "Captain, this is five hundred strings of cash for buying tiger bones and tiger penises. Please count them..."

"Then don't order. You can take the person back." Su Wu smiled and waved his hand.

Seeing that Su Wu really released the man, Ximen Qing said something cruel: "Captain Su really doesn't take Commander Yun seriously?"

"Just enforcing the law impartially..." Su Wu just smiled.

Ximen Qing said nothing and told the servant to carry Yun Lishou away, and to quickly carry him to the home of Yun Canjiang.

There are also words from Su Wu: "Remember to come and get the tiger bones and tiger whip quickly."

Ximen Qing did not answer, but just walked away quickly, with a lot of questions in his mind. How had he offended someone?
What's going on? How can such a good life suddenly turn out to be so unfortunate?
As soon as Ximen Qing and his servants carried the unconscious Yun Lishou out of the yamen gate, many curious people gathered at the gate and came forward to see.

Ximen Qing was filled with anger: "Go away, what are you looking at? Don't you want to live anymore?"

The crowd gradually retreated.

As soon as Ximen Qing walked a few steps away, there was a buzzing sound at the entrance of the yamen.

"Really?"

"It seems to be true. Why did Su Dutou suddenly become like this..."

"What's this?"

"Captain Su may have really been fed up with what he saw. Ximen Qing and his gang are truly the real big beasts in Yanggu County. I think they deserve to be beaten."

"It's time to teach them a lesson and make them behave themselves..."

But someone seemed to have seen through everything and said quietly: "Su Dutou, now it seems that he is a good man, a brave man, but it's a pity that Su Dutou is weak and alone, I'm afraid he will end up badly!"

Everyone looked at the person who was talking quietly, but no one said anything to argue. They all sighed slightly, feeling somewhat helpless...

In the government office, just as the matter was settled, a servant from the magistrate's family came to the back office and bowed to Su Wu, saying, "Sir, please come to the back office to have a chat."

Dong Jian immediately looked worried, but Su Wu waved his hand and said, "It's okay..."

Su Wu followed the boy.

Dong Jian came to Wu Song and asked: "Brother Wu, the chieftain…"

But he stopped talking before he finished speaking, probably because he didn't know how to say it.

"What's wrong with him?" Wu Song asked back.

"That's right... the captain has become weird now..." Dong Jian found the adjective.

"What's so strange about it? I think it's pretty good. If you are angry, you have to vent it. How can you be a hero if you keep it in? What a crappy lieutenant general, how can you be afraid of them?" Wu Song replied.

"Alas... I can't explain it to you clearly." Dong Jian was helpless.

In the back yamen, the magistrate Meng Yi prepared tea and asked Su Wu to sit down.

There was a small table between the two seats, on which was a chessboard. Meng Yi asked Su Wu, "Do you understand this chess game?"

"I can understand a little bit..." Su Wu nodded. He was not joking. He really understood a little bit. When he was in college, he was influenced by his roommate, who was a professional player.

Meng Yi was also a little surprised, and said, "I used to think you were a person who did your job well, running around inside and outside, and you did your best. It's also because I haven't been here for long, so I don't know you very well..."

"Sir, just speak frankly..." Su Wu replied. "There is nothing to be frank about. If you want to argue with them, go ahead and argue. I am already several dozen years old. I have been traveling around various counties for more than 20 years. I have seen many people and things..."

Meng Yi said, pointing to a piece on the chessboard, and then said: "Since I learned that you risked your life to kill the tiger, I know that you are not an ordinary person. Look, how did this piece fall?"

Su Wu went to see it carefully for a few times, and realized that Meng Yi was not a chess master, but just an ordinary enthusiast, so he answered seriously: "This is more appropriate."

Meng Yi took a serious look and said in surprise: "Hey... you really are good at it! You are really a real talent!"

In fact, Su Wu knew that he didn't know much, but the times were different and the information he was exposed to was different. The level of Go research and teaching in later generations far surpassed any period in ancient times.

Su Wu spoke up: "Sir, if they continue to make trouble like this, if we don't do anything about it, I'm afraid someone will die. If someone gets angry and reports it to the prefectural government, it will be difficult to resolve. So we must do something about it..."

Meng Yi looked up at Su Wu, then at the chessboard, and asked casually, "You have a good idea. As an official, I do not seek merit, but only avoid mistakes. I have been doing this for more than 20 years. You did a good job on this matter. I guess you know that Yun Liwan is also the financial backer behind the scenes?"

"After thinking about it, if there was no benefit involved, why would he, a lieutenant general, let his younger brother hang out in the market? This is the only reason. And because of Yun Liwan, they have become more unscrupulous in their actions." Su Wu replied.

Meng Yi nodded: "This government office is well organized inside and outside. I thought you were honest and hardworking. It turns out that you have some wisdom in this."

"I don't deserve it..." Su Wu was modest, but not really modest. In the past, Su Wu was really honest and hardworking.

"After some time, I will go with you on an errand to Dongping Prefecture." Meng Yi suddenly said this.

"Thank you for your kindness, sir." Su Wu immediately understood. If he wanted to overthrow Yun Liwan, he really had to go to Dongping Prefecture. Meng Yi was really helping him.

Then he thought again, this errand should not be something Meng Yi came up with on the spur of the moment. In the Water Margin story, after Wu Song became a captain, he also went on an overseas mission.

Because of this business trip, Pan Jinlian hooked up with Ximen Qing, who poisoned Wu Dalang. After Wu Song came back, he found out the reason and started a killing spree.

Now it is Su Wu's turn to carry out this mission.

Meng Yizheng waved his hands: "You don't have to thank me for anything. After all, this is Yanggu County. You and I are of the same mind. Others can't help with the affairs of this government office. In a few years, I may retire and return to my hometown. I just want to live a peaceful life."

Meng Yi said this and raised his head again: "Would you like to play a game with me?"

"I haven't played chess for a long time, and I'm afraid I'm not good at it." Su Wu spoke the truth.

"Winning or losing doesn't matter, it's just a way to pass the time." Meng Yi was already picking up the chess pieces on the board.

Su Wu also helped to sort the black and white pieces and put them back into their boxes. He also said, "I'm afraid I can't defeat you, sir. I'm sorry to make the first move."

"Haha... no need to give in..." Meng Yi smiled and saw Su Wu make the first move. Making the first move actually showed respect to the other party.

Su Wu really hasn't been down for a long time and his hands are not used to it.

Meng Yi probably usually uses this to kill time, and he is very skilled at it. In terms of chess skills, neither of them is strong, and they are about the same, but Su Wu is already losing.

Meng Yi also saw that Su Wu was really new to the game, so he said, "If you have nothing to do, come and play chess more often."

"How dare I refuse your invitation?"

"You speak clearly and your words are elegant. It seems that you have been educated," Meng Yi asked again.

“Not much.”

"Haha...I like you more and more." Meng Yi laughed happily. He left his hometown and worked as an official in another place. He didn't ask for much. First, he wanted to live in peace, second, make some money, and third, live a comfortable and happy life.

At the end of the game, there is no need to count, Su Wu lost.

Meng Yi didn't seem to care about winning or losing, and only said: "Your chess skills are not low, just play more. If you are really lucky in the future and can really meet high-ranking officials and nobles, and have some good manners, and you have some chess skills, you can also be seen by scholars and they will look down on you less."

There was some sincerity in Meng Yi's words. He seemed to think that Su Wu might really achieve something great in the future, so he offered some advice.

The Song Dynasty was the most blatant dynasty in all history in which everything was inferior except for studying.

"Thank you for your teachings, sir." Su Wu nodded, and seemed to have a better impression of this old official.

"Let's not talk about any teachings. When people get old, they are willing to be kind to others and make good friends. Helping others is helping yourself..." Meng Yi waved his hands. Maybe he really understood and lived a clear life.

Su Wu smiled and said, "I just hope I won't let you down, sir."

"That's your own business." Meng Yi replied with a smile.

(End of this chapter)