Chapter 360 Stand in line and follow the right person
Everyone went down to the court one after another, and Yan Shu lingered until the end. After everyone had dispersed, he slowly left the Daqing Hall. Just as he was about to turn around and go down the steps next to the hall to the north, he suddenly heard someone shouting: "Master Yan, stay here!
"
Yan Shu looked back and saw a man standing in front of a bush of green evergreens at the side door on the roadside waving to him. It was Ouyang Xiu, the censor Zhongcheng. Yan Shu quickly held his hand and said, "Why didn't Mr. Ouyang go back? I'm here to enjoy the palace."
Flowers and plants?”
Ouyang Xiu laughed and said: "The official is waiting for Mr. Sansi. Who is in the mood to appreciate the flowers, plants and trees at this time?"
Yan Shu said in astonishment: "How did you know I was going to go through this side door?"
Ouyang Xiu blinked mysteriously and said: "Isn't Master Sansi going to see the emperor? There are many people in the main hall talking about many things, and I am afraid that many words will not be spoken. I judge that Master Sansi will definitely pass by and enter the inner palace to see the emperor."
Yan Shu was shocked. This Ouyang Xiu seemed to be something extraordinary. He had a sense of smell better than a dog's nose. He actually knew that he was going to see the emperor, but he didn't know what his intention was.
"Master Ouyang is truly worthy of being from Yushitai. His psychological analysis and detailed investigation are really top-notch. Yes, I am going to the inner palace to see the emperor. I want to report to the emperor on the recent progress of the food service and the shortcomings that have arisen, and ask for the emperor's advice on countermeasures."
"By the way, let's talk to the emperor about Su Jin, the food envoy, right?" Ouyang Xiu interjected, with a vague expression on his face that seemed to be a smile but not a smile.
Yan Shu chuckled and said, "Your Excellency Ouyang, you are worrying too much. Since the Emperor has delegated this matter to you with full authority, how could I not know how to get involved? Although Su Jin is the person recommended by me, I really don't know whether he is guilty or not."
I can guarantee that when I was in court just now, I just wanted to have conclusive evidence, not to excuse him."
Ouyang Xiu nodded and said with a smile: "Master Sansi is upright and upright, and he never favors personal interests. I know this, but now I regret volunteering to take over the investigation of the Su Jin Jiao Zhao case. After going to court, I will
The more I think about it, the more I feel something is wrong, how do you think I should investigate?"
Yan Shu said calmly: "Master Ouyang has a hundred times more methods than I do with the investigation officials of Yushitai. Why do you ask me how to investigate? I don't dare to make random ideas for you."
Ouyang Xiu looked around and suddenly said in a low voice: "Does the Master of the Third Division want me to handle the matter impartially? First, he will present witnesses and take confessions, then he will question Su Jin, and finally the three parties will confront each other and make a decision, right?
"
Yan Shu said calmly: "What you do is your business. I really can't give you any advice on this matter. Su Jin is a member of my third department. Logically, it is better to avoid suspicion. Why should Sir Ouyang ask me?"
Ouyang Xiu frowned and said: "To be honest, I don't know what to do. The letter from Prime Minister Lu just now made it very clear. According to what the letter said, Su Jin's matter probably won't happen."
If there is a lie, how could Tangtang, the envoy who had been transporting him all the way, fabricate evidence to frame others? Isn’t this self-destructive? Moreover, Prime Minister Lu is such a meticulous person. He can read the letter openly in the court, and he must have verified and judged it, so this
The case is actually very clear."
Yan Shu smiled and said: "Do you, the Yushitai, always handle cases by trying to figure out people's thoughts? Based on your speculation and observation, it seems that Su Jin's case does not require investigation and can be directly convicted."
Ouyang Xiu was stunned for a moment, then he laughed and said, "Look, Mr. Sansi doesn't even use curse words when he curses people. How can he arrange it in person like this? Am I not analyzing it for you?"
Yan Shu put away his smile and said: "Master Ouyang, I am anxious to see the emperor. If you have anything to say, just say it. If you just want to chat with me, you can go to my Sansi Yamen in the evening. I will ask my subordinates to prepare some.
Bo Jiu, wouldn’t it be nice for you and me to chat while eating, instead of standing here and blowing the cold wind?”
Ouyang Xiu also put away his smile and said: "Master Sansi's suggestion is good, but I don't have that free time, because I also have to see the emperor, how about you and I go together?"
Yan Shu said: "You also want to see the emperor?"
Ouyang Xiudao: "Of course, I want to ask the emperor to tell me how to investigate Su Jin's correction of the imperial edict? How to investigate? Mr. Yan won't give me an answer, so I have to ask the emperor."
Yan Shu frowned and said, "If you and I go together, won't it make the emperor mistakenly think that I am in cahoots with you?"
Ouyang Xiudao: "There's nothing I can do about it. Who can tell Master Sansi not to give me a clear explanation? Although I am an official at Yushitai, I am not ignorant of the ways of the world. To be honest, I am also very entangled in this matter. If I
Even if he is a saint, I will find evidence of his crimes. No matter how big or small the evidence is, it will never escape my eyes. Therefore, no matter whether Su Jin is trying to make an edict or not, I want to investigate him and I will always find enough evidence to make him lose his official position.
Evidence for imprisonment."
Yan Shu knew that Ouyang Xiu was telling the truth. When the Yushitai investigates someone, unless they don't want to kill you, no matter who you are, there will always be a tail for them to catch. Nowadays, who doesn't have a yellow and white thing behind their butt?
Who dares to pat his chest and say that he is as innocent as water? Of course Yushitai will not be stupid enough to bite people randomly, but a new official with no foundation like Su Jin is like holding a snail with three hands, and he is sure to pick one.
Ouyang Xiu continued: "But on the other hand, I know that food service is the overriding priority of the imperial court at the moment, and Su Jin is a middleman. If I just handle the case just for the sake of handling it, wouldn't I be abandoning the good and chasing the weak? Taking advantage of Su Jin is a trivial matter. It's bad.
Taking charge of the imperial court's food service is a major matter. On the one hand, it is my responsibility, and on the other hand, it is related to the overall situation. It is really hard for me to choose, so I came to ask Master Sansi for his opinion. However, Master Sansi did not give me any advice, so I had to go.
See the emperor."
Yan Shu looked into Ouyang Xiu's eyes, trying to find some clues. This man's reputation was not good. After he entered the Yushitai, he had bad relations with many officials in the court and had a weird temper. He did not like to see the likes of Lu Yijian, Du Yan, Pang De, and Xia Song.
Not to mention that he, the Third Secretary, showed no respect to him when he saw him on ordinary days. Even Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi and others who were far away in the northwest were often criticized by him in the court. This person was really a grandma who didn't love his uncle.
character.
However, the emperor is quite good at this person, and his poetry and prose are also quite profound. Although everyone dislikes him, when it comes to Master Ouyang's poetry and prose, few people do not give a thumbs up; for such a person,
How could Yan Shu dare to have a heart-to-heart relationship with such a person? If he were not careful, he would fall into his trap. A bite from him would not lead to his downfall, but it would still be really uncomfortable.
Yan Shu looked into Ouyang Xiu's eyes. There was sincerity in those slender eyes, without any hint of cunning, joking or conspiracy.
Yan Shu sighed and said: "Sir Ouyang, it's not that I don't give you my opinion, your analysis of the situation is extremely accurate. Is Su Jin guilty or not? Did he overstep his authority to recruit troops? Did he refuse the reinforcements from the state government and cause casualties among the officers and soldiers? These things
I also hope to know the truth; but there is a principle that food affairs related to the stability of the country must not go wrong in this matter. Su Jin is a talent, and without him, I really have no confidence in taking this matter forward.
"
After a pause, Yan Shu continued: "Given the current situation, I might as well tell you clearly that it has been more than ten days since the deadline set by the imperial court, and now it has entered the twelfth lunar month. In these more than ten days, not a single grain of grain has been purchased from the official warehouses.
The food on the market is getting less and less, and it is about to run out; the food harvested in the autumn and the food purchased by the government in the previous period can no longer last for too long. If this continues, in less than a month, while the New Year celebrations are still around, Bianliang may not even be able to survive.
The city's food supply is about to run out, not to mention that the northwest war is about to break out. If there is no military food supply for the soldiers by then, you can definitely guess the consequences without me saying it explicitly. I hold the position of the Third Division, others can ignore it, but I can't
Hands down, the emperor knows the importance of this, so he handed this matter over to you in the court today. He is also very embarrassed. One side is the national law, and the other side is the country. If you ask the emperor, how will the pope answer you?
"
Ouyang Xiu frowned in thought, with a look of gain on his face.
"We, who live on the emperor's salary and receive the emperor's favor, must know how to share the emperor's worries at critical moments and ask the emperor to make it clear in everything. This is an irresponsible act of shirk. For all famous ministers in ancient and modern times, not only do the emperor and his ministers get along well with each other, but also
What is commendable is that they dare to take responsibility, take responsibility for the people, take responsibility for the country, and take responsibility for the emperor. If you ask the emperor some things, it is better to ask your own heart, the answer lies in the heart of the people."
Although Yan Shu spoke in a calm tone, the meaning was not simple. Ouyang Xiu was silent for a moment, cupped his hands and said: "Now that I have been taught, I know what to do. Before I leave for Yangzhou, I would like to ask Master Sansi to bring the bandit chief
Shen Yaozu left it to me. In fact, there is no need to go to Yangzhou to investigate. After Shen Yaozu is escorted to Beijing, we can learn from his mouth whether Su Jin has acted as per the edict. Guilty or innocent is only a matter of a few days. If the Privy Council wants to leave
, I’m afraid…”
Yan Shu was shocked, how could he have forgotten this matter? He really was an old fool. The bodyguard Ma Jun and his party had just arrived in Beijing. He had just told this matter in front of everyone this morning. The Imperial Guards were members of the Privy Council. If he went to court
After that, Du Yan took the person away and asked for a confession, which would make things very troublesome.
Yan Shu hurriedly said: "Master Ouyang, please come with me to pick up the prisoner. Your Majesty, I will come to see you later. The prisoner is in the prison of Kaifeng Mansion and is under the supervision of the guards Sima Jundu."
Ouyang Xiuse changed his mind and said: "Hurry, hurry up, the Guards Department is under the jurisdiction of the Privy Council. Sir, you are so confused."
Yan Shu had no time to care about his rudeness and hurriedly took Ouyang Xiu out of the palace.dd