Aspirations

Chapter 73

"What is Xia Xiang's intention?"

After Xia Xiangyi walked for a long time, Pei Shuozhang was still sitting in the private room on the second floor of the teahouse, without stepping out of the room, thinking hard about where Xia Xiang's actions were pointing.At this time, the street had returned to normal order. Fu Ke, Dong Duan, Wang Xianke, Wang Sunshi and others were taken away by Xia Xiang, and Yan Sun and Dong Li who were left behind also took the opportunity to get out and went home quickly, not wanting to be there any longer. Disgraceful in front of the crowd.

The bodies of Ma Xiaosan and his wife were kept by the yamen in the morgue of the yamen.

Tian Qing, the county magistrate, squinted his eyes, his chin beard withered like autumn weeds, three parts yellow and five parts white, sparse and not dense, only over three inches long, but he kept petting it, as if he was a A fair-skinned man with a long beard is average.

"Xianzun, Xia Xiang should want to take over the case of Dong Xian and Ma Xiaosan and his wife, but he doesn't want to take it directly, or in other words, he doesn't want to help Xianzun out of the siege, just because of his official voice, so he uses false ways to kill Guo. The plan is to take down Fu Ke, take away Dong Duan, and then lead the case of Dong Xian and Ma Xiaosan together by the two, which can be reported to the court. "

"Why does Xia Xiang take so much trouble and take over the case of Dong Xian and Ma Xiaosan directly? Why do you have to take a big detour?" Pei Shuozhang had already guessed Xia Xiang's intention. It was just said through Tian Qing's mouth.

The county magistrate is second only to the county magistrate, and is the assistant official of the magistrate. If the magistrate is unable to handle political affairs, the county magistrate can act as the county magistrate on his behalf.Tianqing, the 50-year-old county magistrate, has served as county magistrate for more than [-] years, but has never been promoted to magistrate as he wished.Tian Qing successively served as the prefect of Zhending, Lingshou, and Shile counties. The three counties intersect and are only [-] or [-] miles apart, and they are all under the jurisdiction of Zhending Prefecture.

Tian Qing is also a Jinshi. Although he is a fellow Jinshi, he is also a well-known scholar, not an official.Officials in Daxia promoted more scholars, and rarely promoted those who had not taken the imperial examination but relied on shelter and donated officials, let alone promoted officials.Generally speaking, an official for one day will be an official for life.Like Tian Qing, who came from the same background as Jinshi, most of the outsiders will start from the county magistrate Bo. Tian Qing is not bad, he is directly the county magistrate, and everyone thinks that he can rise from the county magistrate to the county magistrate to the prefecture and prefecture. Unexpectedly, for 20 years, he has been standing still in the position of county magistrate, and has not advanced half a point.

It is not known whether he is a bad person or no one appreciates him. Anyway, Pei Shuozhang is very clear that he has been wary of Tian Qing since the first day he came to Shile to take office. Obviously, there is no personal relationship.Because although he didn't know why Tian Qing had only served as the county magistrate for 20 years and could not move forward, he also understood that Tian Qing would definitely not be liked by the emperor!
The emperor may not remember the names of thousands of county magistrates under Daxia's rule, let alone the names of thousands of county magistrates, but Tian Qing is the only person who has served as county magistrate for more than 15 years and has not been promoted. The emperor thinks It's hard not to remember his name.The emperor has always been tolerant to his subjects. Even scholars who have failed the Jinshi examination for [-] years will be admitted exceptionally, and local officials will be given preferential treatment.

Such an encounter with Tian Qing is similar to that of Liu Qibian who was deprived of fame by the Taizu. It should be that the current emperor dislikes Tian Qing and deliberately suppressed him.

Tian Qing's eyes narrowed into slits, his eyes jumped, hehe smiled: "Xianzun doesn't know anything, although Xia Xiang is young, he has a deep heart. Before meeting with the county, he already asked Wang Xianke. He is very clear about the ins and outs of Dong Xian's case. It can be seen that Xia Xiang is very interested in this case... But Xia Xiang is young after all. When he took office, he took over a major case involving three lives. It would be a big and irreparable mistake. But if you only tried a small case of murdering a court official, it would be easy to close the case. And if the big case of Dong Xian and Ma Xiaosan and his wife was brought out from it, it would be done, yes Surprising joy. If it fails, you can stop it in time. Anyway, there are small cases of Fu Ke’s murder of court officials and murders that can be reported. Xia Xiang’s move is a surefire way to advance, attack, retreat, and defend. , acting flawlessly, is a powerful role."

Tian Qing's words coincided with Pei Shuozhang's thoughts.In all fairness, Pei Shuozhang appreciates Tian Qing's talents very much. Tian Qing is a person who judges the situation and has a lot of vision and courage, but he always commits a taboo in the officialdom-showing off his cleverness, speaking for his superiors, and often speaking too much. It seems that he is smarter than his boss.

Pei Shuozhang nodded slightly: "So, Xia Xiang will probably open a hole in Fu Ke's body, and then follow the vine to find out the truth of Dong Xian and Ma Xiaosan's suicide?"

"It must be so. But..." Tian Qing smiled complacently, "Dong Xian and Ma Xiaosan really committed suicide, and there will be no other truth. Xia Xiangxian will definitely be disappointed."

Pei Shuozhang was silent for a moment, and he thought about the whole thing again, and he was a little more certain in his heart, and he laughed: "Tian Xiancheng is very right, no matter how much this official loves the people like a son, he can't stop those who want to die. If you commit suicide, you can't let the person who committed suicide come back to life. It's getting late, go back to the county government to rest for a while, and prepare to welcome the people from the bureau."

"Yes." Tian Qing respectfully crossed his hands in a salute, and in his respectful expression, there was a flash of cunning and pride.

Zhending County Government Office is located on the south bank of the Hutuo River, across the river from Zhending Mansion. If the weather is fine, if you stand on the book building of the county office, you can clearly see the door of Zhending Mansion and the drums.

There was news from the station long ago that Xia Xiang, the new magistrate of the county, was about to take office recently.Hearing that there is a new magistrate in place, really made the people in Zhending County both excited and hopeful and helpless.Excitedly looking forward to the availability of county magistrates Ma Zhanguo and arresting head Ding. It is true that the county magistrate has been vacant for more than three months, and the Ministry of Personnel has been late to send someone to take office. All matters in the county are managed by the county magistrate, Xu Heguang, and Xu Heguang and the wardens. Yang Jiang held the power and did whatever he wanted, which made Ma Zhanguo and Ding Keke very dissatisfied, but they couldn't take the two, both of them far surpassed them both in terms of position and prestige.

It was Xu Heguang and Yang Jiang who were lost.Xu Heguang, who is in his thirties this year, has served as the county magistrate for five years in Zhending. He thought that he would take over the post of magistrate, and he would go a step further, but he did not want to appoint a new Jinshi.It's just a new Jinshi, and he has only just been weak.

If none of the above is the main reason for Xu Heguang and Yang Jiang to feel helpless and unhappy, then Xia Xiang’s exposure to Wenchang’s corruption in the imperial examination when he went to Beijing to take the exam, which led to Wenchang’s dismissal, is what made Xu Heguang and Yang Jiang the most uneasy. where.Xia Xiang offended the third prince, will he have a bright future in the future?Xu Heguang and Yang Jiang don't care whether Xia Xiang has a bright future, but if Xia Xiang affects the dissatisfaction of the third prince with all the officials in Zhending, it will be a great misfortune in Zhending County.

Therefore, Xu Heguang and Yang Jiang were more worried than expected about Xia Xiang's appointment.

From Shangjing to Zhending, the journey is long, ranging from six or seven days to more than ten days.According to common sense, all the way to the south of Xian Zun, all the way to the south, must be arranged by the post station, Zhending County Ya can always know when and where Xia Xian Zun passes.There was a post report from the post station the day before yesterday, Xia County Zun has passed by Shile Post Station, Shile is only fifty or sixty miles away from the real settlement, and it should arrive today at the slowest, so Ma Zhanguo and Ding Ke wear new clothes early in the morning and wait. At the gate of the county government office to welcome the arrival of the county honorable.

He didn't want to see the county lord after noon, so Yuan Dongdeng, who was sent to greet the county lord, drove his horse for forty or fifty miles. When he arrived at the junction of Zhending and Shile, he did not find the county lord and his party.When he rode his horse back to Zhending County Yap, it was already afternoon.

After hearing Yuan Dongdeng's words, Ma Zhanguo was very puzzled. He really decided that there was only one official road to Shile, and the county magistrate and his party came by horse-drawn carriage. Only the official road was feasible, and the country road could not be reached. Why didn't the county magistrate go?Moreover, the area of ​​Zhending is all flat roads, there are no mountainous areas, and it is impossible to encounter bandits and bandits. Moreover, Zhending has been stable for many years, and there has been no worry of bandits for decades.

So where did the county magistrate go?
Not only Ma Zhanguo was puzzled, but Xu Heguang and Yang Jiang, who had been waiting for Xia Xiang for a long time, were also very puzzled. Could it be that Xia Xianzun got lost?No, Xia Xianzun is originally from Lingshou County, and he is not unfamiliar with the Zhending area, even if he is not very familiar with it. Moreover, from the capital to Lingshou, just follow the official road all the way south. How can Xia Xianzun get lost if he can reach the true determination?

If not lost, where did Xia Xianzun go?It was the first time in history that the dignified and dignified head of a county did not see the strange event since the establishment of the Great Xia Dynasty.

Seeing that it was getting late, Xu Heguang felt a little anxious, and greeted everyone to return to the county council hall for a meeting.

The meeting hall was originally the place where the magistrate convened everyone to discuss matters. Now that the magistrate has not yet taken office, as the county magistrate, it is also in accordance with the rules to discuss affairs here.However, Xu Heguang still didn't dare to sit on the front seat, but left the seat vacant. He sat on the second seat, looked around at everyone, and said, "I think you all already know that the county lord's whereabouts are unknown. It is very important, and the county magistrate has some advice to warn everyone. First, do not publicize it to the outside world. Second, if Xia Xianzun is still missing tomorrow night, report it to Zhending Mansion immediately. Third, although Xia Xianzun is a county's honor After all, you are young, there are many messy rumors in Zhending County, you don’t need to mention it to Xia Xianzun, if you let the county magistrate know who intends to tell lies in front of Xia Xianzun, hehe, this county magistrate will not forgive him.”

"Follow the orders of the county magistrate." Yang Jiang was the first to jump out in a hurry, "Zhending County and Zhending Mansion are across the river, and if there is any disturbance in Zhending County, the manor will be informed. Cui Mansion Zun has always disliked things, and if anyone makes trouble out of nothing, Cui Fuzun will definitely not like it. Cui Fuzun is strict under the rule, and he will never be soft-hearted when punishing his subordinates. Don't forget how Feng Yasi was ruled by Cui Fuzun. A crime of disrespect, and finally a lonely end..."

Hearing Yang Jiang mention Feng Yasi, Ma Zhanguo and Ding Ke looked at each other, and they both saw dissatisfaction and disdain in each other's eyes.The corners of Ma Zhanguo's mouth twitched a few times, thinking that Yang Jiang still had the face to mention Feng Yasi, Feng Yasi was punished by Cui Fuzun because of Yang Jiang's false accusation.

Pity Feng Yasi, but after getting drunk, he talked about how the Qinghe Cui family was famous in the Tang Dynasty, but in the Xia Dynasty, they were unknown. What do you think about the incompetence of the unworthy descendants of the Cui family... These words are just words after drinking, and there is nothing wrong with them. I don't know why they reached Yang Jiang's ears. Xu Heguang, Xu Heguang told Cui Xiang about it without saying a word.

As the magistrate of Zhending, Cui Xiang was a senior member of the fifth rank, and as a descendant of the Cui family of Qinghe, he was mocked by a small arraigner. imprison.Although Hao Haiji knew that Feng Yasi was innocent, he was forced by Cui Zhifu's lewd power, so he had to fabricate a crime and put Feng Yasi in prison.

After Feng Yasi was imprisoned, Xu Heguang tried every means to torture Feng Yasi, but fortunately, Ma Zhanguo could not bear Feng Yasi's unwarranted disaster.After being released, he lost his post as an escort and lost his livelihood since then. His parents, wife and children couldn't bear the blow and died one after another. He lived on the streets alone, like a beggar.

Ma Zhanguo and Ding Kei were extremely sympathetic to what happened to Feng Yasi, but they were unable to lend a helping hand, mainly because Hao Xianzun was a cowardly person and did not dare to say anything about Cui Zhifu's intentions, not even Cui Zhifu's wife and brother Xu Heguang. A little color.Without Hao Xianzun to come forward, the two of them were powerless to contend against Xu Heguang and Yang Jiang.

As the brother-in-law of Cui Zhifu, Xu Heguang is only the magistrate of Zhending County, but he is known as the Underground Magistrate of Zhending County.Hao Haiji, the magistrate of Zhending County, had been an official for three years, and was restrained by Xu Heguang everywhere. Major matters and small matters were decided by Xu Heguang. He just nodded and signed, and was called the joint magistrate.After Feng Yasi was imprisoned, in order to demonstrate the authority of the county, Hao Xianzun proposed Guo Minghan to be the prisoner, but Xu Heguang rejected it because of Guo Minghan's lack of qualifications. Xu Heguang proposed Yang Jiang to be the prisoner. Hao Xianzun knew that If he appoints Yang Jiang to replace Feng Yasi, it will not only make the official style of Zhending County unhealthy, but also damage his personal reputation and official prestige, but he still does not dare to disobey Xu Heguang's intention, so he has to admit it.

When Hao Haiji's term of office expired for three years, when he was transferred from Zhending County, instead of saying goodbye, he felt relieved and left happily. It is said that Xu Heguang went to see Hao Haiji off, and said politely that the mountains are high and the rivers are long, and we will see each other in the future.Hao Haiji quickly responded, since then he has never seen each other in his life, and he is as active as participating in business.

It can be seen how Hao Haiji hates and resents Xu Heguang, so much that he wishes to never see each other again in this life.

Xu Heguang waited for a moment, and saw Ma Zhanguo and Ding Keke bowed their heads and said unhappily, "Why, can Ma County Lieutenant and Ding Zhaotou have any advice on what the county magistrate should say?"

Ma Zhanguo and Ding Ke hurriedly stood up to give salutes: "Don't dare, just follow the words of the county magistrate."

"Sit down and talk, you don't need to be polite." Xu Heguang smiled knowingly and said pleasantly, "Ma County Lieutenant and Ding Zhaotou, the county magistrate knows how much you two are dissatisfied with me, it's okay, the county magistrate will not let me In my heart. You two are also dedicated to the public, and the county magistrate understands your two hearts for the country and the people. It's just that Zhending County and Zhending Mansion are in the same place, only across the river, and the county is windy. I arrived at the government office in a short time, and I have to be careful about everything."

After a slight pause, Xu Heguang added: "Xia County is young and energetic, and a junior high school jinshi has served as the magistrate of Zhending County. He has no official experience and no court-mindedness. I am ashamed of the people of Limin. I have waited for the Xia County Honorary to be a few years old and have been in the real decision for many years. We should abide by our duties and try our best to share the worries for the Xia County Honorable. Do things that are not good for the people of Limin If I can't rank first in the assessment, it's my dereliction of duty as a subordinate!"

Ma Zhanguo frowned slightly, turned around and sat down, his eyes quickly swept across the faces of Xu Heguang and Yang Jiang, then lowered his head and held his breath, with a respectful expression on his face, thinking in his heart that Xu Heguang used the same method he used to deal with Hao Haiji to deal with Xia County Zun, bullying Xia Xianzun is not a big deal, and using the Ming as the county's honor to share the worries, but the county's deceitful tricks trap Xia Xiang to death in Zhending, and let Xia Xiang be suppressed by Cui Xiang and bullied by Xu Heguang He was deceived by Yang Jiang and other pawns, and was completely controlled by a web of power and favor woven by Xu Heguang.

Xia Xianzun has just been weak, how can he be the scheming opponent of Xu Heguang?Ma Zhanguo was worried in his heart, and the joy of hearing Xia County Zun's wisdom and Wen Changju disappeared before. Before taking office, Xia County Zun lost his way on the way. In Zhending, the land of Longtan and Tiger's Den, I am afraid there is no line. vitality!
Ma Zhanguo sighed secretly. When he heard that the newly appointed magistrate had brought down Xia Xiang, who was the second-rank official of the court, Wen Changju, in the fraud case, he was overjoyed. With such a powerful person serving as the magistrate of Zhending, it might be true. Set the sky and day.Unexpectedly, after waiting for more than ten days, the news that the new magistrate was missing on his way to take office was unexpected. How could he not be disappointed?
"Xu Xiancheng and Ma Xianwei, someone from outside said that it was Shile County Wei Fan Li and the arresting head Liu Ming who escorted the prisoner to hand over the prisoner. Please go to the county Wei and the arresting head to meet them."

The yamen Luo Caicheng came in to report.

"What? Captain Fan Li of Shile County is escorting the prisoner?" Xu Heguang looked shocked, stood up, and slapped the table, "Captain Ma County, Ding Butou, follow me to meet him."

Ma Zhanguo rose in response, and He Ding Ke followed Xu Heguang out of the auditorium.What he admires most about Xu Heguang is this. The official articles on the surface are very good. The other party is only the county magistrate and the head of the police. The county magistrate and the head of the county are just the same. Those who are not familiar with him will be impressed by his polite corporal.

(End of this chapter)