wTwo fast horses are galloping on the official road. The men on the horses are whipping their whips like rain, and the two horses are running at full speed with hot breath coming from their mouths..)
At the beginning of the afternoon, the majestic city wall of Shouzhou City was in sight. The exhausted two horsemen slowed down. At a pond five miles away from the city, they dismounted and rested. They gave the horses water and food and took a short rest.
A tall and powerful man took off the water from his horse and drank a few gulps. He handed it to another slender man, took a few deep breaths and said, "Little Fourth Brother, have you been to Shouzhou City?"
The tall and thin man took a few sips of water, stuffed the water bag and put it on the saddle, and said with a smile: "She's very familiar with her. I have an aunt who married in Shouzhou, and I worked as a businessman in Shouzhou a few years ago."
The strong man smiled and said: "No wonder the young master sent you to deliver the message with me. I will follow you when we enter the city later."
The tall and thin man said: "No problem, let's enter the city from the south gate, enter the main road in the city, and then go west. The official post is near the school field in the west city. If Mr. Ouyang lives in the official post, we will definitely be able to find him; unless he doesn't live in the official post.
Yi, I’m afraid I’ll have to spend some time inquiring about it.”
The strong man said: "That's okay. Mr. Ouyang is escorted by more than seventy followers. These people must be stationed in the military camp. If you really can't go to the military camp to check on these people, just ask them to report."
The tall and lanky man said: "Exactly, brothers of the Dynasty, the big boss is so anxious to send us to Shouzhou to deliver the message, and we are not delayed for a moment, has something happened?"
Wang Chao smiled and said: "Fourth brother, you are really smart. Although I don't know what happened, it is obvious that something big happened. The young master mysteriously disappeared this morning. When he came back, he immediately left the guests in the hall and returned.
I wrote this letter in the study, and it is obvious that the matter cannot be delayed; it is not a small matter."
Yang Xiaosi, a tall and lanky man, said: "No matter what happens, it is only serious that we get it done as soon as possible. The big boss is here for the rest, so just follow his arrangements."
Chao Chao laughed and said: "That's right. Let's set off quickly. The sun is falling very fast. After delivering the letter, we have to rush back. We can't delay."
Yang Xiaosi nodded, leaned over and looked at the information in front of the horse, stood up and said: "The horse is very hungry and has even eaten up a piece of bean cake. Let's set off."
The two of them got up, packed their belongings, got on their horses, and gently urged the horses towards the south gate of Shouzhou.
…
In Luzhou City, at dusk, several large vehicles quietly departed from Su Zhai and went around to Beicheng. At the entrance of a house, the large vehicles stopped.
When the car door opened, Su Jin helped Mrs. Wang out of the car and walked slowly towards the house.
The lights were on in the house, and Yan Biyun stood at the door to welcome her. Mrs. Wang stopped and asked, "Son, why do you insist on living in the house for your mother? Why do you want to move when you live well at home?"
Su Jin smiled and said: "Mother, this is also the property of my Su Ji. It is a pure house specially prepared for you by my son. I see that you have been upset by the visitors at home these days, so I specially want to invite you to come here to do some cleansing."
A few days; from now to the Lantern Festival, there will be constant visitors to our house, and they will keep making noises for you for more than ten days. What can I do? If it causes you to have a migraine attack, my son will be guilty."
Mrs. Wang said: "But how is it appropriate for a family to live in two places during the Chinese New Year?"
Su Jin smiled and said: "Miss Yan is here to accompany you. There is a large Buddhist hall inside, and the maids and cooks at home are all from the same class, so you won't feel uncomfortable. I also came back to sleep at night. After this
If you want to go back and live next year, that's up to you, but you have to rely on me at this time."
Yan Biyun came up and held Mrs. Wang's left arm and said with a smile: "Yes, Auntie will allow Biyun to fulfill her filial piety for a few days. The old house is very noisy. Not to mention you, even the slave family can't bear it."
Mrs. Wang sighed and said softly: "Don't hide it from me. Something is bound to happen. I am old and there is nothing I can do to help you. I can only ask Bodhisattva to bless my son every day; but you need
If you agree to be my mother, you must think twice before doing anything. If something unexpected happens to you, my mother will not survive."
Su Jin was speechless and could only nod frequently to comfort her. With a wave of her hand, the maids and waiters behind her unloaded the belongings from the cart and moved them in. After a while, the house returned to calm.
Su Jin had a conversation with Mrs. Wang. When she saw that Mrs. Wang was feeling sleepy, she said goodbye and came out to the courtyard. Yan Biyun and Xiao Xian'er were holding lanterns and wearing big cloaks and stood at the back door waiting quietly. Su Jin hurriedly stepped forward and said
: "It's so cold, why are you two standing outside in the cold?"
After saying that, he reached out and held their cold little hands and walked towards Yan Biyun's room. After entering the room, Su Jin turned on the charcoal fire. Xiao Xian'er made hot tea and put it on the small table. The three of them sat around the brazier.
Be silent.
Yan Biyun sighed softly and said, "I didn't expect that the house purchased by the slave family would actually come in use."
Su Jin said: "Yes, this place is indeed secretive enough. It is not dependent on other people, and it is located on the bank of a fertile water. It is a good place to live. The yard is so big, it looks like a martial arts arena."
Yan Biyun chuckled and said: "What kind of martial arts arena? It was originally a workshop. I thought that the land in this courtyard was large and it was very suitable for building another high-rise building here. I originally planned to open a semicolon; this place used to be very noisy and prosperous. The front
There used to be a brothel at the entrance of the street, but now that brothel seems to have been idle, so it looks very clean. Because of this, the slave family did not change it to a semicolon, and the market entrance is not very good."
Su Jin nodded and said: "I see, I have to borrow your money again this time, otherwise I would have to hide it and send my mother's soldiers out of the city who tried to avoid the city gate, which would be difficult."
Yan Biyun sighed: "Su Jin, it's not that the slave family is too talkative. What you did is a dangerous move. You go to convince Lang Shaodong's family. The slave family has no objection. It happened that Lang Shaodong's family was punished by Magistrate Zhu, and everyone in the Chamber of Commerce did not support him. Obviously
This opportunity must be taken advantage of; but if you ask him to reveal the information about Chen Laogen and the letter, it is very dangerous."
Su Jin said: "I know that when I was preparing to implement this plan, I had already foreseen the hidden dangers, but in fact that was exactly what I wanted to achieve."
Yan Biyun frowned and said, "What is your purpose?"
Su Jin nodded and said: "Exactly, I am actually not interested in Zhu Shiyong's tampering with grain records. In any case, Zhu Shiyong managed Luzhou's grain affairs flawlessly, even if he confused the dates and gave grain to Tun
The merchants paid the price before the deadline, but after all, the food service had not collapsed. Even if this matter was found out and reported, it would not be a fatal blow to Zhu Shiyong; at most, it would be a small punishment, and even someone in the capital could help him speak.
Under such circumstances, the merits and demerits will be equal to each other and nothing will happen. That is not something I can tolerate."
Yan Biyun said: "I understand what you mean. The fatal thing about Zhu Shiyong is that he deliberately sent someone to send a letter to leak the secrets of grain transportation; but you revealed such important evidence to Zhu Shiyong, have you ever thought about how he would react?"
Su Jindao: "Of course I have considered it. The worst result is that he doesn't believe it. If he makes up his mind to do nothing and just wait and see what happens, I have no good solution. As for Chen Laogen's confession, because there is no such letter,
The evidence will also be regarded as false accusation; despite Ouyang Xiu's oath, this person will not be stupid enough to open fire on Zhu Shiyong without sufficient evidence; I originally thought that he concealed the food release for me for two reasons, one is that he was afraid of offending
Mr. Sansi, the second is that the bargaining chip I gave him was beneficial to his promotion; but later I found out that I was wrong."
Yan Biyun said: "How do you say this?"
Su Jindao: "Actually, Zhu Shiyong's case and the list of those in Yangzhou Prefecture who have been transferred to other places and have colluded with Feng Jingyao are not attractive to him; the only thing he is worried about is Master Sansi; if you don't threaten him with death on the day, he feels that there is a problem
It's so serious that he will never let me go."
Su Jin reached out and took Yan Biyun's hand, squeezed it gently, looked at her and said, "Thank you, you really saved my life."
Seeing Xiao Xian'er beside her, Yan Biyun blushed a little and wanted to take out her hands, but suddenly she didn't want to take them out. She let Su Jin hold them and said softly: "Saving you means saving the slave family itself. As I said, you are dead.
The slave family cannot live alone."
Su Jin smiled and said: "I understand, but without you that day, Ouyang Xiu would not have agreed easily. The bargaining chip I gave him was not enough at all. The reason why he accepted it was just the icing on the cake; he thought clearly that he would offend the three parties.
When Master Si gets angry, his future is over. Between Lu Yijian and Master San Si, with the fierce competition for the phase, there is no middle way to go. He has no future even if he wants to be a wallflower; no matter who wins the phase.
, his position as a centrist is very embarrassing, so he is eager to find a backer to rely on; he bet on me because he understands the relationship between you and me, and he has protected me. As long as Mr. Sansi boarded the
Aspect, his good days will come; this is the reason why he really protects me, everything else is just smoke."
Yan Biyun thought carefully and said softly: "Are you worried that he won't do his best in Zhu Shiyong's matter? Lest the lack of evidence shoot himself in the foot?"
Su Jin nodded and said: "That's for sure. If there is sufficient evidence, he will start immediately. But the problem is that he only has witness, and Chen Laogen has not actually read the letter at all, so it is easy to expose the flaws."
; He was supposed to come to Luzhou with me to collect evidence, but he chose to go to Shouzhou after my strong invitation, saying that he was investigating Wang Qinian's participation in my imperial edict; it seemed that he was helping me out of trouble, but in fact he
He just wanted to make peace with Xini. He knew that there would be a fight between me and Zhu Shiyong when I returned to Luzhou, so he chose to stay out of it. How could I let him get his wish?"
Yan Biyun nodded slightly. She had to admit that Su Jin's analysis was reasonable. Ouyang Xiu sat and watched the tiger fight. Su Jin's defeat had nothing to do with him, and Yan Shu would not blame him. If Zhu Shiyong showed any flaws, he would immediately
Push Chen Laogen out and get a share of the pie as the last straw; if Ouyang Xiu really thinks so, then this person is too sinister.
"Zhu Shiyong and I have been at loggerheads. Hei Qi and others were switched out and later silenced. Qin Dalang's case and the death of several others were definitely his fault. Regardless of these crimes for which we have no evidence, they are all crimes against me personally.
For me, my father's hatred, the framing of me in Qin Dalang's case, and the obstruction of food transportation, so that the food was robbed, are all directly related to him. If he hadn't hindered it, how could I have been in Yangzhou City?
I have been in trouble all over, and now I have been implicated in several major crimes, including false orders to release military rations and even murder and silence. If these accounts are all attributed to Zhu Shiyong, how can I tolerate him?"
Seeing Su Jin gritting his teeth and tangled muscles on his face, Yan Biyun quickly comforted him softly: "Don't be angry, don't be angry."
Su Jindao: "Some people may think that I blame Zhu Shiyong for the wrong things I did, but Zhu Shiyong is the cause. Just like a firecracker, Zhu Shiyong lit the first one, and the others had to explode in succession. If there was no delay in transporting food,
If there was no incident of the bandits robbing the grain, there would be no crime of forging an edict to recruit peace. All of these are connected in a chain, and they are all done out of necessity; these crimes on my part are all culpable.
One thing can kill me, so how can I be merciful to him?"
Yan Biyun reached out and caressed Su Jin's face, and said softly: "I understand, I understand."
Su Jin said softly: "So I have to force Zhu Shiyong to take action and force Ouyang Xiu to take action. This is the essence of my plan this time." mdd