Zhang Mei waved her hand and was about to step down with her men. Ouyang Xiu and Song Xiu hurriedly stepped forward to stop him. Ouyang Xiu smiled and said, "Why are you in such a hurry, Commander Zhang? You are here to announce the decree. If you go back before the decree is announced, how can you communicate with the emperor?"
"
Zhang Mei sneered and said: "Everyone has been killed, so why declare an edict? Is Ouyang Zhongcheng just amusing himself?"
Ouyang Xiudao: "How dare you? Although Zhang Dushi arrived a step late, his decree still needs to be announced. Otherwise, wouldn't the emperor blame Zhang Dushi for his dereliction of duty? I am also thinking about you; besides, I am also very puzzled. Your Majesty just did it yesterday.
The decree allows us to execute criminals in Yangzhou, so why did we send Zhang Dushi Qianli to convey the decree to suspend the execution?"
Zhang Mei thought for a while and said: "Well, what Ouyang Zhongcheng said makes sense. Even though no one has stopped him, the imperial edict must still be announced. Otherwise, I really won't be able to explain it when I go back. Welcome to read."
After saying that, he turned around, took the brocade box from the guard behind him, and said loudly: "Ouyang Xiu, Song Xiang, Su Jin listen to the order!"
Everyone hurriedly dressed and knelt down on the ground. All the people and soldiers also knelt down to listen to the order.
"Ouyang Aiqing, Song Aiqing, Su Aiqing, I previously issued an edict promising you that Yangzhou criminals would be executed on the spot for the sake of the common people. However, after the edict was sent, both the Political Hall and the Privy Council mentioned the inappropriateness. The remarks were made by this dynasty.
The most serious case of official administration, hasty execution is illegal. Lu Aiqing requested an order to send an official to Yangzhou to audit the case before making a decision. I also feel that the request of the Privy Council of the Political Affairs Hall is a prudent move, so I have considered it again and decided to defer the execution.
.This is because I did not consider it properly. You are understandable for thinking about the people. If the soldiers and civilians in Yangzhou have any confusion, the three beloved ministers should do their best to appease and explain. I promise you that after the inspection is completed, the execution place will still be there.
In Yangzhou, it will be a pleasure for the people to witness the conferring of heads on the guilty chief! I admire this!"
Everyone cheered three times and stood up. Zhang Mei collected the imperial edict and said calmly: "Ouyang Zhongcheng, I have received the imperial edict."
Ouyang Xiu stepped forward to receive the order, but Su Jin hurriedly grabbed him, took a step forward and said: "Envoy Zhang, I ask Envoy Zhang to take this imperial edict back to the capital. I can't accept it."
Zhang Mei said angrily: "Su Jin, what did you say? The imperial edict was read out in public, how could there be any reason not to accept the imperial edict?"
Su Jin said: "Zhang Du, the emperor's decree is for us to postpone the execution, but the criminal has already been executed. If we accept the decree again, wouldn't we be disobeying the decree and disrespecting it? We cannot bear the responsibility of this crime. Zhang Du will general
Just bring it back to the capital and return it to the Holy Emperor. There is nothing you can do if you fail to arrive before the execution to announce the decree. The Emperor will not blame you, you have fulfilled your duty."
Only then did Ouyang Xiu and Song Xiu realize that Zhang Mei had set a trap for them to get in. If they accepted the imperial edict and the prisoner was executed, Zhang Mei could report to Ouyang Xiu, Su Jin and others for resisting the edict and disrespecting it.
, as to whether the criminal was executed before receiving the order or after receiving the order, even if there are ten mouths, it is impossible to tell.
Ouyang Xiu secretly thought it was a fluke. If Su Jin hadn't thought quickly, he would have fallen into this trap today.
"Are you really refusing to accept the order?" Zhang Mei said angrily.
Ouyang Xiu cupped his hands and said: "Mr. Zhang, it's not that we refuse to accept him, but we dare not accept him. Please forgive me! Mr. Zhang has come here after a long journey and is exhausted. I will arrange a place for you to stay and hold a banquet for you to welcome Mr. Zhang."
How about washing your hands, resting for the night, and then returning to the capital tomorrow?"
Zhang Mei's face turned livid and she said coldly: "No need, I will go back to reply. There are still important matters in the capital, so I will take my leave."
Ouyang Xiu was already very dissatisfied with this person's trap just now. He was originally just saying polite words, and of course he did not insist on retaining him at this moment. He held up his hands and said, "In that case, Zhang Du, please do so."
Zhang Mei's cold gaze swept across the faces of the three of them one by one, landed on Su Jin's face, and said with a sneer: "Special Envoy Su has been a popular figure recently, and the daily topics inside and outside the court are always inseparable from Special Envoy Su.
I have some skills, but I will report this matter to the emperor truthfully. You wish me well and take my leave."
Su Jin cupped his hands and smiled and said: "I hope Zhang Dushi will really tell you the truth. It's cold and the road is long, so Zhang Dushi will be careful all the way and won't send it off!"
Zhang Mei snorted angrily, led more than a dozen of the guards in front of the palace to get off the high platform, mounted their horses, waved their riding whips and drove the people out of the passage again, and galloped away.
Ouyang Xiu's forehead was dripping with cold sweat, and he looked at Su Jin speechless. Su Jin took a breath and asked: "Master Zhongcheng, will the emperor blame me for this?"
Ouyang Xiu rolled his eyes at him and said: "Are you afraid now? This matter is both big and small. We did execute the execution before receiving the order, and the crime of resisting the order is absolutely out of the question; but Zhang Mei
He has already spoken to stop him, but if we still carry out the execution in front of him, the two governments will have doubts, and I am afraid they will not let him go, and they will secretly send people to investigate."
Su Jin said: "Just check, why are you afraid of him?"
Ouyang Xiu spat: "You think you can fool the tens of thousands of people present and cover for you without hearing a word? Alas! The trouble will continue."
Su Jin's scalp was numb and he simply didn't think too much. He cupped his hands and said, "The soldiers will block it and the water will come to the village. At least these prisoners have been executed. They want to cause trouble, but it's not that easy."
Ouyang Xiu nodded and sighed: "That's all we can do. Let's wait until we get past this level. Now that it's happened, the three of us are clenching our mouths and saying we didn't hear anything. No matter how much he interrogates us, we don't hear even three words. If anyone lets go,
After talking, everyone started playing."
Su Jin smiled and said: "Very true, I will obey the words of Lord Zhongcheng."
Ouyang Xiu was not in the mood to talk nonsense with Su Jin, so he turned around and said: "The prefect of the Song Dynasty called the corpse for an autopsy. After confirming the death of the prisoner, the body was collected and the head was hung on the gates of the four cities for three days. Anyway, the matter in Yangzhou is finally understood.
"
Listening to the exchange between the two, Song Xiang vaguely felt that Su Jin and Ouyang Xiu were trying to silence people. However, he also learned a lesson and from now on he would never interrupt when he shouldn't. He would just follow the steps of Su Jin and Ouyang Xiu.
; As long as Su Jin is fine, he will be fine even more, so there is no need to think too much.
…
The Yuelai Inn was busy. Everyone in the Su family was packing their bags. There was a long line of black carriages at the entrance of the inn. Dynasty Mahan and others were carrying out big boxes one after another from the inn to the car.
Su Jin stood aside with his hands on his hips, feeling extremely beautiful.
This is a large amount of money that has been collected in the past two months. The bandits in Bagong Mountain and Feng Jingyao made Su Jin a huge fortune. Adding the two together, the total amount of money obtained is no less than five or six million. Su Jin
He never dreamed that he could be so fat and oily even if he was on an errand; the matter was not over yet, there were still a bunch of people in Luzhou waiting for him to clean up, and he might be able to make a big fortune again; Su Jin's smiling eyes were full of joy
It was a copper coin ingot, and Le couldn't close his mouth.
Rou Niang and Yan Biyun stood in the lobby of the inn and looked at Su Jin. Rou Niang sighed softly: "Young Master is playing with fire. The slave family is really worried about him."
Yan Biyun smiled and said: "What are you worried about? He has his reasons. Although these properties are suspected of being greedy, they are all ill-gotten gains. Although your young master loves money, he is not a stingy person. The slave family is thinking,
Even if these properties are handed over to the court, how much will they benefit the people? But in his hands, they may actually be used for the people."
Rou Niang said: "Did Master tell me how to use the money?"
Yan Biyun covered her mouth and said with a smile: "He said that when he goes back, he will first build a luxurious house to raise you all in, and call it the Grand View Garden. This is to hide the beauties in a golden house. It seems that your son-in-law wants to collect all the beauties in the world.
Take it as your personal pet."
Rou Niang blushed and said, "Sister Yan, you can still laugh, and you don't care about such ridiculous things."
Yan Biyun also blushed and said: "The slave family doesn't care. It's your responsibility to take care of your young master. What does it have to do with me?"
Rou Niang said: "Sister, are you trying to clear things up? I don't know who got into my sister's room that night and came out early the next morning."
Yan Biyun was so frightened that he hurriedly looked around and spat: "You are here to make fun of me too. How can I see people in my house if word spreads?"
Seeing Yan Biyun's solemn look, Rou Niang apologized quickly and said: "The slave family is too talkative, sister, don't blame me, but the slave family still needs to talk more. I heard Huan Niang and Sui'er say that Xia Siling in the capital has been to the rented house in the capital several times.
, before coming to Yangzhou, Miss Xia also wrote a letter asking Sui'er to bring it to the young master."
Yan Biyun was startled and said: "What about the letter?"
Rou Niang leaned into Yan Biyun's ear and whispered: "Sui'er is torn apart. You know sister Sui'er's temper. How could she bring a message to the young master on behalf of Miss Xia?"
Yan Biyun nodded and said nothing.
Rou Niang said softly: "So I still want to remind my sister that I can't take it lightly. There are many people outside who are watching covetously. My sister can't just do nothing. I am still young. If I am tempted by others and I can't control it, it will be terrible.
.”
Yan Biyun shook his head and said: "If he really treats me, why should I worry about this."
Rou Niang shook her head and said: "That's true, but you can't let others take advantage of it. For example, this time you are going back to the capital to celebrate the New Year. According to my sister, it is better to go to Luzhou together and meet the old lady. In the end, I will still be with you in the future.