The fox minister in the late Tang Dynasty

Chapter 321

The autumn wind blows the Wei River, and the old Longtan of the Jing River.

In mid-October, the two sides of the Weishui River are green and yellow, and the Weishui River extends into the east of the Yellow River. The small boats on the river pass quietly, and the morning sun is gradually brightening. The cormorants are standing on the side of the boat combing their feathers. Glancing at the woman with thick hands and feet pickling the fish taken out of the basket at the stern of the boat, she comfortably hummed a tune she heard somewhere.

The water cases are connected, the official road is prosperous, and the chariots, rough horses, and human voices are mixed and lively.Business travelers who travel far and wide will come to Chang'an every month, and at the end of the year, they will trade goods with merchants from the Western Regions and earn a considerable amount of money.

From the Han Dynasty to the great Tang Dynasty, businessmen in the world are familiar with the truth.

Recently, there have been some disputes in Longyou to the west. The official road was blocked by the Longzhou government.

The incident happened suddenly, and the merchants who originally traveled to and from the Western Regions were more or less affected. Most of them who returned were thin and ragged. In their words, being able to come back alive was already a blessing in misfortune.

All of a sudden, merchants gathered in Chang'an, together with the gentry and big households, they petitioned the government, and even donated grain and fodder to Longyou, hoping that Longyou could maintain business and cut off the threat of party members.

The hoarding of materials and difficulty in the circulation of money also affected the lives of ordinary people in Chang'an and the surrounding counties, so that many scholars made a fuss about these things, either motivating the government, or mocking them.Occasionally, the rivers, lakes and green forests will gather in groups, unite to reach an agreement with the caravan, and escort the caravan with the most money to the Western Regions.

In the past few months, knights with swords and swords in various parts of Chang'an have often been seen going in and out of restaurants and inns. If there are too many people from the rivers and lakes, they will cause trouble, or encounter revenge seekers.

These trivial matters caused quite a headache for Tu Shifei, who presided over the Criminal Department. Now that the capital has been moved to Luoyang, Chang'an has instead become the accompanying capital. , Si Cang, Si Hu, Si Bing, Judiciary, and Si Shi correspond to the six ministries of the Shangshu Province in the court, and are in charge of a state's official examinations, etiquette, taxation, warehouses, household registration, post biography, prisons, and engineering and water conservancy affairs.

Compared with the previous Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, the official rank has declined, but the power has increased.

After all, he used to be the servant of the Ministry of Punishment, but an official of the court. If he fell into a state, he would never be able to take up a judicial position.What's more, he and Geng Qing are also acquaintances. When reporting on their work, if they reveal a few words, Luoyang will think about it.

The morning sun rose above the clouds, shining on the window lattice, and the light and dust flying through the gap fell on the desk. Tu Shifei turned over a page of the desk, and when he heard footsteps, he walked outside the door. Before knocking on the door, he said: " Come in."

Nearly two years later, he was still burly and dignified. He didn't put down the brush in his hand, and he didn't lift his head when he heard the door being pushed. He just asked, "Are Jianghu people making trouble in the street again?"

"Returning to the judge, the governor sent someone to send the news that King Yong may arrive in Chang'an this afternoon, and let the judge make some preparations so that we can go to meet him together."

Over there, the figure who was reviewing official documents at the desk stopped his brush, Tu Shifei raised his face, his eyes were a little lost in thought, and the guard asked: "Judge?", he came back to his senses, put down his pen and ink and smiled: "I heard that , you go down first."

When the officer folded his hands and exited, there was the sound of heavy breathing in the room. The burly figure behind the case rubbed his face, stood up against the table, and walked to the window with his hands behind his back.

"King Yong"

Looking at the courtyard outside the window, Tu Shifei sighed. In the past two years, he has been promoted from a mere vain minister to King Yong. No one in this world can be promoted as quickly as he is.

'I really missed it at the beginning, but fortunately I can make up for it in time. '

Back then, the Ministry of Criminal Justice arrested three people, and Wang Feiying was also working in the government office, so he joined the army as a recorder; and the last person, Yang Huaixiong, left the Ministry of Criminal Justice and entered the army with Geng Qing. The news sent back half a year ago was already an envoy of the first army Yes, probably the best of the three, and the best relationship with Geng Qing.

'I really missed it. '

Tu Shifei repeated again, his past thoughts made him slightly distracted. After a while, he put down his official duties and took only a few confidants with him. He rode out of the governor's mansion, walked across the long street to the prison of Dali Temple, and handed over the token After verifying his identity, he entered the prison alone, walked through the dark and damp corridor, the depths of the wall where the torches extended, and there was a separate cell, most of which were felons related to the court without judgment.

The clanging chain fell to the ground, and Tu Shifei pushed open the heavy prison door. The sun was shining into the darkness from the small window above. Behind the slanting beam of light, an unkempt figure was sitting in the corner of the wall. When he heard the sound of the door opening, he moved. , as if turning his head.

"I haven't been here for half a year. Today, the judge suddenly came over, but the verdict came down?"

The voice of the figure was hoarse. Ever since he knew Liang Daitang, he had become lifeless. "I can finally be freed. When will I do it?"

Tu Shifei pursed his lips and raised his hand to let the cell boss leave. He walked in silently, closed the cell door, took off his saber and leaned against the wall, sat beside him, and took out a small wine bottle with a red scarf from his sleeve and handed it over.

"When I came here, I bought it on the way and tasted it."

The figure was not polite, pulled out the cork wrapped in the red scarf, raised his head and took a big mouthful, and after a while, he wiped the wine stains on his beard with insatiable desire.

"Cool, it's good to have such a good drink for the last meal."

"Brother Huaimian."

"what?"

"You're going out."

The figure wiping his mouth stopped moving. Under the disheveled hair, Qin Huaimian opened and closed his mouth and beard, and looked at Tu Shifei beside him in a daze.

The room was quiet for a while, Tu Shifei smiled, leaned back against the wall, and looked at the beam of light from the small window.

"King Yong is going back to Chang'an, and you will soon be free."

"King Yong?"

Tu Shifei nodded and smiled even wider.

"Yes, King Yong, it is your good brother Geng Qing. Many things have happened in the past six months. Zhu Wen died, and the original Shang Shuling has also become King Yong and the governor of Shanguo. This land has great power. He Whoever you want to let go and whoever you want to die is a matter of one sentence."

Qin Huaimian was stunned for a long time.

"He succeeded, and his path went smoothly, hehehe."

I don't know what I was thinking, hehe chuckled, and Tu Shifei on the side also laughed, and immediately, the loud laughter shook the cell.

Hahaha--

Haha!

Loud laughter spread through the small window, the bustling market outside, the shopkeepers walking around the streets yelled loudly, shaking their rattles, and strenuously carrying their loads through a mansion, and then they were caught in front of two stone lions at the mansion gate The servant drives away.

"Hurry up, hurry up, my old lady is coming back, block the door, be careful not to break your leg!"

"Stop talking, he will just stop and take a rest."

While speaking, one of the servants glanced at the street, and two carriages and more than a dozen guards came towards this side.

"The old lady is back, open the door quickly."

As the procession came, the servant girl Lian Er came down first, opened the curtain, and respectfully helped an old woman with a hairpin in her bun get out of the car.

Wang Jinqiu is old, his hair is neat but almost white, his body is also hunched, but his complexion is surprisingly good. Amidst the respectful address of the servants on both sides, he went straight into the mansion with the help of the maid. Not long after, a group of people who heard the news came The women, Yingyingyanyan, surrounded the surroundings. A few babies with bare crotches were drooling and giggling in their mother's arms, causing Wang Jinqiu to count them down one by one. Why didn't the Geng family's baby Cover it well, if you catch cold, you have to teach me a lesson
"I went to the Ci'en Temple to burn incense and worship the Buddha. I wish my son and your husband are safe in Luoyang. If you have nothing to do, go and burn a few pillars. Don't be heartless all day long."

A group of women just laughed, and the old people at home scolded them, that would be happiness. The days of fear in the palace a few years ago, how can they live comfortably now.

"Understood, mother!" "My husband is destined to be blessed, and Bodhisattvas may not be as powerful as my husband."

"That's right, your husband is very lucky, otherwise why would you marry so many in one go?"

"Hee hee. Maybe he is in Luoyang and found us many sisters."

The old woman was surrounded by a group of daughters-in-law to the front yard, and she was asked to answer random conversations all the way. When she sat down and had a sip of tea, she had the time to ask about the eldest daughter-in-law.

"Where are Qiao Niang and Yun Xiang? By the way, why is Nian'er missing?"

"Qiao Niang and Rue Xiang are busy settling accounts in the side yard, while Nian'er reads and writes in the right room." As soon as a woman answered, more than twenty women immediately followed suit, the middle hall was buzzing non-stop, with a child in her arms Disliked the noise and started crying, this time it was even more noisy.

Wang Jinqiu bulged his eyes, pinching the teacup, and felt that it was not a good thing for his son to be too promising. Marrying so many wives, when will he calm down for a while.

"Shut up!"

The old lady slammed the teacup, and Zhongtang became quiet. Soon, a fast horse came to the mansion through the streets and alleys, and came in with a huge amount of information.

The middle hall, which had been quiet just now, suddenly became noisy. The old woman closed her eyes lightly, clasped her palms together and began to recite the scriptures. The stone hanging in her heart was finally let go.

The wind ran across the eaves of the corridor, blowing towards the direction of the side yard, and penetrated into the slightly open window lattice. The lit candle flickered slightly. In front of a desk full of account books, Su Qiaoniang was flipping through the account books, and the lights illuminated the beautiful With a fair oval face, she frowned slightly, and was comparing the two account books in her hand, pointing to them with the plump and beautiful woman to say something from time to time.

"There is a problem with the goods in the silk shop. The shopkeeper over there will be replaced as soon as it is due. This is the second time. If you are not capable, let those who are capable go up. Don't think that our family is all women, so it's easy to fool!"

In the past two years, Qiao Niang has learned to read and read books. In her early twenties, she has cut off her youthful activities and shouldered the burden of a housewife. She is like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath. In front of the old lady, daughter, and Geng Nian, they appeared gentle again.

In the past two years, she has maintained such an image, and sometimes she couldn't hold on anymore, so she cried secretly in the room, and the next day, she had a cold and tough look again.

Several times, other sisters in the family asked her if she would be bullied outside?If they were bullied, they would go to seek revenge together. Anyway, there are people in the government office, and the Geng family is not afraid.

Not long after, someone hurried over and knocked on the door.

"What's the matter?" Su Qiaoniang put down the account book and asked.

There was a servant girl outside, her voice obviously stammered with excitement, "My lord, that and that" For a moment, she was so excited that she couldn't speak, Bai Yunxiang put down her pen and got up and opened the door. Looking at the maid who was blushing, she seemed to sense that What, joy gradually crept up on her face.

"But Shang Shuling is back?"

The little maid obviously came trotting all the way, nodded, shook her head, pointed outside: "Yes, it is the master's house, but it is not Shang Shuling. The master's house is now King Yong."

In the room, the account books landed on the desk with a 'slap', Bai Yunxiang looked inside, the slim figure behind the desk couldn't help trembling slightly, she pursed her lips trying to smile happily, but held back.

At this time, cheers erupted from the front yard, Qiao Niang hurriedly got up, dragged her skirt and calmly walked out of the account room, in the distance, Geng Nian hurried over with her two-year-old sister.

"Auntie, Daddy, him."

"It's so blah, what a shame, go back quickly." Su Qiaoniang straightened her face, but then said: "Go back and change your clothes, don't let your father see it, thinking that the family is not doing well."

As he said that, he hugged the ignorant Fengmei in his arms, rushed to the front yard with Bai Yunxiang, and yelled loudly at the servants running around.

"Clean all the inside and outside of the mansion, hang lanterns on the corners of the promenade, and change into your new clothes this year, and go and call Dachun back, and ask him to bring a few people to the mansion as soon as possible. Wait for the news at the gate of the yamen, and see where King Yong has gone!"

In the huge mansion, the maids, servants, and guards are in a hurry. Dou Wei has a swollen belly and a serious expression, like a door god standing at the door with a golden lion knife; Dachun was pulled by his mother from Widow Zhang's house. He pulled it out, put on his shoes and clothes, ran out of the side door as if fleeing, and rushed to the government office with three servants, yelling.

Soon, news spread across half of Chang'an that the backbone of the Geng family was about to return.

(End of this chapter)