(Thanks to yjj, three yellow teeth and two book friends for their monthly passes, and thanks to moshoong book friend for the reward!)
Gao Ruona suddenly shouted: "No, no, I have something unclear."
Su Jin put his hands behind his back and said, "Deputy Ambassador Gao, do you have any questions?"
Gao Ruona thought to himself: "According to Master Su, the public houses of the Yamen officials are only temporary residences. After today, where will they live and work?"
Su Jin smiled but did not answer: "Follow me to the 10th Street in the West Wing, and you will naturally understand." [
Su Jin took Zuo Daoying's arm and walked west along Asphalt Street to Tenth Street. He saw that the houses on both sides of the road had already hung various plaques, and the public housing offices of the various ministries under the envoy's jurisdiction had been prepared.
The public servants were all in their places; a two-story stone building in the south of the road was newly decorated, with two stone lions squatting in front of the door, and a large plaque inscribed with the official's name hanging on the door.
Su Jin smiled and said: "This is the original location of the public houses of all levels of road envoys that have been prepared long ago. I have named this tenth street Guoning Street. The house number of the office is No. 10. From now on, all road envoys will
When I settle in Pearl City, my office and residence will be at No. 10 Guoning Street. This is a rule I have set."
Zuo Daoying and Gao Ruona looked at each other in surprise. They had been to Tenth Street a few days ago. At that time, there was no official residence at all. In just a few days, they came back and turned into the original people that Su Jin said.
Just choose the address of the Yamen office.
Before Gao Ruona could say a few words, Zuo Daoying had already understood the trick. He hurriedly pulled Gao Ruona gently, cupped his hands and said: "Master Su has thought carefully and admirably to build a palace for the emperor in Pearl City. Your Majesty,
I will be extremely happy to learn that, and I will definitely report this matter to the Emperor after I return to Beijing, and the Emperor will definitely reward me."
Su Jin waved his hand and said with a smile: "Thank you for your trouble, Mr. Zuo. I have also written a memorial to the emperor, respectfully inviting the emperor to come to the Pearl City for a tour to the west. The palace is imitated from the layout of the palace. The emperor came to settle here during the tour to the west. It is considered inconvenient to live here."
Your Majesty, please consider the little things for your Majesty."
Zuo Dao responded. It was obvious that Su Jin had seen through his purpose and arranged so many deceitful activities overnight. Not only did he teach people how to punish him for this matter, but on the contrary, he expressed his loyalty.
The emperor knew clearly that he was playing tricks, so he could only praise him on the surface, but could not punish him for this reason. He was really powerful, and he was able to resolve the crisis easily and skillfully. He was indeed the most difficult official in the Song Dynasty.
of a role.
At this point, Zuo Daoying could only go along with the tide. He even said that he would report Mr. Su's loyalty and sincerity to the emperor in front of the emperor. Su Jin held a banquet to bid farewell to Zuo Daoying and led all the officials to a lively general meeting.
Zuo Daoying was sent home.
The most depressing person is Gao Ruona. He knew that Su Jin was up to something, but he had no room to refute it. What he said was completely true. Zuo Daoying originally reported the matter after returning to the palace, and Su Jin reported it.
A catastrophe was imminent, but the situation took a turn for the worse. Su Jin had done something like this. No matter how everyone understood that this was Su Jin's trick, the emperor would never punish Su Jin. On the contrary, he was in the dark, but now he has been exposed.
After getting out, can Su Jin spare himself?
Under Su Jin's supervision, all the people who lived in the so-called "Pearl Palace" in the middle compartment were evacuated. Even the yamen were moved. Su Jin's residence was originally in it, but now it had to be moved out, leaving only a few dozen.
Gardener servants and more than a hundred soldiers were left inside, responsible for daily cleaning and guarding. Such a large middle compartment could only be left idle. This made Su Jin so angry that he vomited blood.
Little Hu'er was ignorant. When moving, he ran over and pulled Su Jin's robe and shouted: "Daddy, Daddy, why don't you let Hu'er live here? Hu'er likes to live here. The garden is more fun than outside. There are butterflies, bees and birds.
, and there are many flowers, which are not found outside.”
Su Jin responded, but was secretly sulking.
In the back house of Zhixin Yamen on No. 10 Guoning Street, dozens of members of the Su family lived in a small house with two entrances, which seemed extremely cramped. This made Su Jin feel aggrieved and wandered around.
But he came back. In the Pearl City he built with his own money, he did not have the right to live in the middle wing. Instead, he had to leave the middle wing vacant. A large family, old and young, crowded into this two-door building that was originally intended for merchants to do business.
How can I swallow this breath in a small house?
Yan Biyun didn't take it seriously. Seeing Su Jin's brows furrowed and depressed while eating, he hurriedly motioned to Xiao Xian'er on the side to pour wine for Su Jin. He also took a glass of wine and said: "My husband is clever and resourceful, and he will solve a crisis while talking and laughing."
Resolved, I would like to give you a toast, congratulations to you."
Su Jin didn't listen, and when he heard this, he felt even more upset, as if someone was slapping him in the face. He drank his wine glass and said: "How can that be reasonable? I, the Su family, spent money to build a house. Do you want to live in it or not?"
Is it okay to live under coercion? Originally, I wanted my family to live comfortably, but in the end I drove myself to this small house. It is simply unreasonable."
The wives and concubines had never seen Su Jin get angry at home, so they all cautiously stepped forward to comfort her. Xia Siling said: "Husband, why bother? Husband also thinks about the whole family and doesn't want to be criticized by villains. We don't blame you either. Having said that,
, it’s not bad here, there aren’t many people in the family, and there are more than a dozen rooms in the house that are enough, but... the yard is a bit small, and the tigers can’t escape.”
The tiger cried in a milky voice: "There is no swing, no grass for Cuju, and no butterflies or flowers."
Yan Biyun glared hurriedly and said: "Adults are talking, children, please don't interrupt."
Hu'er was scolded and was about to cry, so Huan Niang quickly held him in her arms and stroked him.
Su Jin sighed and said: "I'm not angry because of the cramped living space. The house I rented in Yingtian Mansion was not much better than here. When I first arrived in the capital, the house in Yulin Lane was also much worse than this. I'm angry because
Because...it's because...well, it's okay not to say it."[
Yan Biyun thought for a while, then dismissed the few serving maids, and then said softly: "I understand your husband's thoughts to a certain extent. Is your husband discouraged because of the emperor's suspicion?"
Su Jin looked up to the sky and sighed. He picked up a glass of wine and drank it. He slowly said: "The layout of the middle compartment is indeed an oversight on my part. I shouldn't have been so careless, but what the emperor did is really heart-breaking. I came to the northwest to do this."
Officer, on the one hand, he praised me for my ability, stopped all military aid, and asked me to share his worries and be self-sufficient, which I accepted; some people said that it is only natural for the Northwest Fourth Road to support itself, compared to other wealthy states
The government not only has to support itself, but also provides money and taxes for the court. Northwest only wants to be self-sufficient. The court has also been tax-free for three years. The emperor has given you a lot of face. Tell me, after hearing such words, can I still refuse?"
Yan Biyun frowned and said: "The people who said this don't understand the situation at all. Can the northwest be compared with other state capitals? After several years of war, the land was abandoned, the people settled the settlements, and the climate is not suitable for growing crops in the south.
There is only one season of wheat every year, so many people need to eat and clothe themselves, so many soldiers need to be paid and fed, and fortresses on the border need to be built to defend against enemy attacks. Money is needed everywhere, where does the money come from?”
Su Jin waved his hand and said: "I won't talk about these anymore. I think I still have some abilities. I don't dare to say anything else. I can still make the people in the northwest not hungry and sleeping on the streets. But how will the emperor treat me? Pai. I hired Gao Ruona to follow me and monitor me. Yes, it is a regulation for the imperial court to appoint magistrates and supervisors of the army. This is understandable, but I have worked so hard that I have built a new city. The imperial court didn't give up anything, and the emperor didn't even have any words of encouragement. On the contrary, he poured cold water on me several times. After the completion, instead of sending someone to congratulate me, he sent a eunuch to check whether the layout of my construction violated the regulations and whether it was correct. Heart? What is this? Who do you think I, Su Jin, am?"
Su Jin angrily picked up the wine glass and put it to his mouth. When he saw that the wine glass was empty, he reached out and grabbed the wine bottle and poured it into his mouth. Xiao Xian'er quickly snatched it away and said angrily: "Don't do this to yourself. "
Su Jin wiped the wine stains from his mouth and patted his knees and said: "In ancient times, the sage kings would like to confide in their hearts when they meet a virtuous minister. The Duke of Zhou vomited his breasts when he met a virtuous minister. The Lord of Shu invited Zhuge to visit the thatched cottage. Although I, Su Jin, am not a great sage, Although he was talented, he considered himself to be serving the Song Dynasty with all his strength. What he did when he became an official was not for the sake of the Song Dynasty, but also for the consideration of the court. What was the result? The official position was getting bigger and bigger, and he was more and more suspected. The more serious it is, I really want to go to Beijing immediately and ask the emperor what he thinks? Why do I, Su Jin, send people to keep an eye on me so sneakily and don't pay attention to the big things I do, but do so to these trivial things? Be careful, why is this?"
Yan Biyun stood up and stepped forward, wiped the sweat on Su Jin's forehead with a silk handkerchief, and said softly: "Husband, please don't be angry. What you have done is shameful to heaven and earth. Your husband's reputation among the people is also very good, and the common people know what is good and what is bad; Besides, the emperor is not a foolish king. Do you think that if the emperor is suspicious of you, how can he put you in the important position of the Northwest Fourth Route Envoy? This position is more important than some central positions in the court. It’s even more important.”
Su Jin gritted his teeth and said: "That's because I can help him defend the northwest, and I can also help him get a large number of horses from Xixia. I can also help him fill the stomachs of millions of soldiers and civilians in the northwest without having to pay for it, eliminating the need for him to fight in the northwest." Otherwise, do you think he would give me this position? A few months ago in the capital, I only asked him to lightly punish Fan Zhongyan and others for their crimes, but he was unwilling in every possible way and even argued with me in the palace. Han Fan The two adults have made great contributions in the northwest. Once he makes a mistake, does he have the slightest intention to take credit for it? He said it is for the sake of forming a party, but in fact, he is placing all the blame for the failure of the New Deal on them. He does not dare to take responsibility and will only blame. My lord, what kind of wise king is this?"
Xia Siling was so frightened that she quickly looked out and ordered someone to close the door tightly. Yan Biyun also hurriedly tried to persuade her: "Husband, please don't be angry. You can't say these things nonsense. It would be terrible if they spread."