The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

Update time: 22--7

It is rare for everyone to have such leisure during official hours, both the Shangguan and the prince are there, and they are not afraid of being suspected of being lazy, and they talk happily.

King Teng and Tang Jie didn't stop them, they let everyone talk about the favorite topic among these men, not only that, but also pretended to be relaxed and teased a few words from time to time to arouse their enthusiasm.

However, Tang Jie and King Teng were always concerned about the outside affairs. Tang Jie poked his head out of the curtain from time to time to see if the yamen servants who were listening to the news came back, what the current situation was, and whether Yan Shu would make any moves.

At three o'clock, the yamen servant who inquired about the news came back for the fourth time, and the news he brought was still that the car of the third envoy was still blocked on the street, and hundreds of "people" were sitting at both ends of the car to see the lord, but Yan Shu avoided seeing, hid in the sedan chair and did not show up, but the German army deployed General Li Gang and Yan Shu's son-in-law, Fu Bi, to confront each other with the guards and soldiers and the 'common people'. It was so exhausting, and no one showed any signs of backing down or compromising.

What made Tang Jie even more surprised was that Yan Shu never sent anyone to the government office to ask him to come forward, as if he had completely forgotten the existence of him, the magistrate.

Tang Jie understood that Yan Shu didn't want him to come forward, because that would make people think that Tang Jie, the magistrate, was an indispensable figure in Yingtian Mansion, and then he wanted to announce the decree and transfer it outside, which seemed ridiculous; not to mention Yan Shu also couldn't get rid of this old face. If Lord Yan, who even gave the emperor three points of face for a word in the court, if Ying Tianfu couldn't even walk a street, he would be a laughing stock in the court in the future.

Tang Jie was trying to figure out what Yan Shu was thinking, and he had full confidence in predicting what was about to happen; Yan Shu was patiently persuading these 'common people', but once he reached the limit of his patience, he would arrest them without hesitation. It was what Tang Jie expected.

Because these so-called people are all gangsters from the four cities under the prince's command, it is absolutely impossible for Yan Shu to resolve it peacefully. When the officers, soldiers and common people were fighting, it was ridiculous for the three envoys to act as imperial envoys.

Tang Jie decided to add heat to the atmosphere, he whispered a few words to Zhao Zongdan, Zhao Zongdan laughed when he heard this, nodded his nose and said: "You are really bad."

Tang Jie said with a smile: "There is no way, they are all forced."

Zhao Zongdan beckoned to Qin Fei, and whispered in his ear: "Go and greet the brothers, no matter how vicious your words are, no matter how harsh your words are, remember not to do it first. If they do it, tell them not to be polite. You can smash it with sticks and bricks, just don't touch iron objects, so as not to be said to have come prepared."

Qin Fei nodded and said: "Follow the prince's order, but... what if someone dies?"

Zhao Zongdan sneered and said: "It's better to kill people, tell Liu Qi, Wang Bald, Li Dazui and others, if they really do it, don't be soft-hearted, the family expenses are well prepared, grab the leader and beat him to death, come out Something happened and someone took care of it."

Qin Fei smiled speculatively, and said to Zhao Zongdan: "My lord, just look at it. With your words, Guan Bao will turn him upside down."

Zhao Zongdan thought for a while and said, "Don't come forward, find someone to pass the message, so as not to be recognized."

Qin Fei cupped his hands and said: "My lord, don't worry, so far, the sons and daughters don't know who arranged this, but these people don't bother to ask, they just use money to do things, who cares who pays for it."

Zhao Zongdan waved his hand and said, "That's very good, let's go."

Qin Fei lifted up his robe, turned around and left. As soon as he lifted the curtain, he heard a commotion outside, and someone shouted repeatedly: "Hey, hey, who are you? I am discussing business matters with several adults, if you make trouble with them, you may lose your skin."

Another person shouted loudly: "Are you very powerful in Yingtianfu Yamen? We broke into your Yamen, and we are looking for Tang Jie."

"On the other hand, brothers, stop them. A bunch of mud legs are so courageous. I'm afraid they're tired of living."

With this shout, the outside suddenly boiled, and there was a sound of shouting and cursing, mixed with the harsh scraping sound of weapons drawn out and the sound of sticks hitting the ground.

In the inner hall, everyone heard it clearly, and everyone had to stop talking about the affairs of the four famous actors in Beijing. They turned their heads and looked out of the curtain. Qin Fei, who was halfway up the curtain, froze there like a clay and wood doll, blocking everyone's sight , all you can see is his thin and pointed back and buttocks.

Tang Jie frowned and walked over, grabbed Qin Fei who was blocking the way and pulled back, Qin Fei sat down on the ground, then woke up and pointed to the outside stammeringly: "Yan... Yan ..."

King Teng scolded: "What are you doing, what are you doing, you ate hemp walnuts in your mouth? You can't even say a word."

Hearing the noise outside, Tang Jie couldn't bear it anymore, he lifted the curtain and stepped out, yelling and cursing: "Who is making the noise? How dare someone break into the Yamen, beat them all out!"

King Teng followed with all the officials and lifted the curtain, and saw more than a dozen men dressed in Tsing Yi and short-sleeved civilians in the courtyard connecting the lobby and the second hall, holding weapons and confronting the third class of government servants in the government office. Then, standing behind the group of people was a short and fat old man, dressed in common clothes and a bamboo hat, with his head down, unable to see his face clearly.

"Master Tang is so powerful!" The man raised his head slowly and said slowly.

As soon as Tang Jie cursed, his tongue got stuck under his tongue and he couldn't get out. Under the bamboo hat, he had a fat face, narrow eyes, round nose, and black beard on the upper and lower jaw. Who else was it if it wasn't Yan Shu?

Only now did King Teng understand why Qin Fei froze at the door and only called 'Yan... Yan'. It turned out that Qin Fei had poisonous eyes, and he guessed that Yan Shu had arrived just from his figure and posture.

Zhao Zongdan dodged back and retreated, planning to retreat into the house, but he heard Yan Shu say loudly: "Prince Teng is also here, and it just so happens that the old man is going to your house to announce the decree, so let's take it together and save the old man from running around more." In other words, the road to Yingtian Mansion is really difficult, much more difficult than barren mountains and swamps."

Both Tang Jie and Zhao Zongdan understood the meaning of his words, but they could only pretend not to know how dare to talk about it at this time and place; Wearing this cloak, the king thought he was a villager with mud legs, and I don't want to deal with mud legs, I just wanted to avoid it."

Yan Shu laughed and said: "The prince's body is a thousand pieces of gold, so naturally he can't face to face with mud legs. The old man understands very well. Come on, undress me."

The guards on the left and right yelled in agreement, and came forward to take off Yan Shu's cloth clothes, and took out a pair of official boots and a lacquered black gauze crown from his bulging arms, and helped Yan Shu put them on one by one.

Everyone watched Yan Shu put on his shoes and hat in astonishment. Except for Tang Jie and Zhao Zongdan, no one understood what was going on.

Tang Jie was furious in his heart, and squinted at Zhao Zongdan. Zhao Zongdan's face was livid, and he glared at Qin Fei. Going in and out, I never expected that Yan Shu would be so cunning, disguised as a commoner, quietly escaped his shell, and led people directly to the government office.

"The imperial decree has arrived! Teng Wang Zhao Zongdan and Yingtian Zhifu Tang Jie received the decree!!" Yan Shu shouted loudly, reached out and took out the bright yellow imperial decree from his bosom, and slowly unfolded it.

Zhao Zongdan and Tang Jie were still hesitating what to do, but the officials behind them all knelt down like ducks in a river.

Zhao Zongdan hesitated for a while, then slowly bent his knees, and finally knelt down; Tang Jie sighed secretly, knowing that Zhao Zongdan lacked the courage, so he didn't dare to make a sudden attack and kill Yan Shuge.

Tang Jie's knees softened, and he knelt down. From the moment he knelt down, Tang Jie knew that his fate was about to usher in a turning point. Tang Jie had already made plans at the moment he knelt down, and immediately made a confession and sent Teng Wang's deeds are exposed one by one for his crimes and meritorious deeds. His own head is already on his neck. If he does not act decisively, dozens of people, old and young, in his family, and hundreds of people from the nine clans will all fall to the ground.

Yan Shu's eyes were cold, and he scanned Zhao Zongdan and Tang Jie who were kneeling slowly, with a faint smile on his face.

"Following the fate of heaven, the emperor's edict said: Tang Jie, the magistrate of the heaven, guards the heaven and the earth, is diligent and dedicated to the public, honest and self-denying, the order of the heaven is orderly, the people are safe and the business is prosperous, I am very happy about it. For the comments from the superiors, I will award them with a decree and promote them to two levels, that is, I will go to Beijing to take up the post of Yushi Taichung Chancellor; I hope Tang Aiqing will uphold the idea of ​​serving the country and loving the people, and work hard to make great use of it. Appreciate it!"

Tang Jie kowtowed and shouted: "Thank you Lord Long En, long live my emperor."

Yan Shu said with a smile: "Congratulations, Mr. Tang, you have been promoted to the post of Doctor Yushitai by two ranks. Your Majesty has high hopes for you."

Tang Jie had no expression on his face. He got up to accept the imperial edict without even a smile on his face.