Man Tang Huacai

Chapter 227 County Captain

There is an ancient well in the courtyard. Looking inside, the water is quite clear.

Xue Xin and his two brothers drew a bucket of water from the well and tasted it. It was sweet.

"Boil it before drinking it, as my brother said."

In fact, they didn't understand the reason for boiling the water. Anyway, it was what Xue Bai said, so they strictly obeyed it.

Liu Xiangjun took out all the dirty clothes he had accumulated along the way, found a wooden basin and placed it under the stone steps, and said with a smile: "This house really has everything you need."

"Mom, I'm going to boil some warm water. It's getting colder."

As they were talking, Xue Gengbo led two servant girls over from the front yard, saying that Magistrate Lu had arranged to take care of the county captain's daily life.

"Oh, how can I bother my wife to do this? Let's wash it."

The two maids were both diligent. They sat down in front of the wooden bucket and started washing the clothes. Afterwards, they exchanged greetings with smiles on their faces.

"I must be the wife of the county captain, right? You are so lucky."

"How can we be so lucky?" Liu Xiangjun was a little embarrassed, pointed at Xue Xin, and said with a smile: "This is my son. He is learning to do things by the side of the Number One Scholar, so he brought his family here."

"Young man, you have such a strong body. He must be about seventeen or eighteen years old, right?"

"No, not even fifteen yet."

"He is a filial and sensible person. He is working as an aide to the county captain at such a young age. He must have great potential."

"Lend your auspicious words."

"We just came here and saw a fairy-like person in the main courtyard from a distance. Is she the wife of the county captain?"

"That's not that, that's..."

"Grandma." Xue Xin came over and said, "What do you want to buy? Let me buy it before it gets dark."

Liu Xiangjun reacted immediately and said, "Come here, I'll talk to you for my mother's sake."

The mother and son walked back into the house, and Xue Xin lowered his voice and said, "The county magistrate sent people to my brother's side to ask about him."

"Yes, it's been a long time since these things happened, and I almost didn't react." Liu Xiangjun said, "I'm going to the main courtyard to have a look. Don't go out yet."

"I know." Although he was only facing two servants, the young Xue Xin felt as if he was facing a formidable enemy, and said solemnly: "I'm watching the yard, waiting for brother to come back."

When Xue Bai came back and heard this, he showed a somewhat relaxed smile.

"Brother, they are staring at you." Xue Xin said, "There are two very beautiful maids in the main courtyard. They must be trying to trick me."

"It's ok."

Xue Bai really doesn't care.

He could see that Lu Linghao was very utilitarian and had many methods. Unfortunately, he had been serving as a county magistrate for a long time and his structure was still a little smaller than that of an important minister in the court. He did too much, which made him appear guilty.

Sending someone to keep an eye on him showed that Wu Huaishi did not tell Lu Linghao what the saint was thinking.

As for the servants and maids staring at him, it didn't matter. Xue Bai arrived in Yanshi County openly, and the Du sisters would disguise themselves as merchants and come secretly.

~~

Xue Xin was young after all, so he swore that the two maids arranged by the county magistrate were beautiful. In fact, in Xue Bai's eyes, they can only be regarded as pretty.

In the evening, Xue Bai returned to the main room, where Qinglan arranged for them to wash up and asked them some questions.

"Are you the maids in Magistrate Lu's mansion?"

"Yes, if the slaves take good care of them, can Mr. Lang help them get the body deed?"

"Have you been in the Lu family since you were a child?"

"I was five years old, and she entered the mansion when she was four."

"Looking at your age, you were sold by your family around the 22nd year of Kaiyuan? Where?"

"Huaizhou. My mother-in-law is so cruel that she sold me for a few bags of millet."

I don’t know how they were taught. When they mentioned these past events, they even raised their heads so that Xue Bai could see their faces clearly. Apparently they knew they were beautiful. After all, wealthy people also have to choose when buying slaves.

The little beauty embryo grew up in a wealthy family.

Xue Bai asked: "When did you come to Yanshi County?"

"I have been in Luoyang. Sometimes I go to Chang'an. I only arrived in Yanshi County in the first year of Tianbao."

"I want to ask you something." Xue Bai summoned a maid and asked in a low voice: "The daughter of Magistrate Lu is serving as a female official in the palace, but is she her biological child?"

The maidservant, who was still shy and ashamed at first, changed her color in shock when she heard this. She quickly lowered her head and said, "Master, please don't talk nonsense."

"I'm too rude. Don't tell anyone else. Please help keep it a secret. Go and rest."

"Here."

After the two maids retreated, Qinglan couldn't help but said: "The gentleman is scaring them, he is also a pitiful person."

Xue Bai echoed and said, "Don't let anything slip about Jin Niang and Jin Niang."

Qing Lan blushed, she was really shy, and muttered in a low voice: "I won't tell."

In fact, Xue Bai said that they would come over secretly, but he didn't expect that she misunderstood.

Qinglan was also very tired after trekking all the way. She knew that she would not be able to control the demon by herself, so she silently bolted the door and opened the curtains.

They will stay here temporarily for a while.

~~

There is no curfew in Yanshi County. When night and day alternate, distant bells can be heard from the temple.

It is not as rushed as the morning and evening drums in Chang'an, and has a quieter feeling like a small county town. However, it is located in an important water transportation area, and the county office is still very busy with official business.

The ringing of the temple bell reached the county office. Zhao Liu, who was on duty at the county office, picked up his clapper and knocked seven times. When the clerk from the inner office handed over the key to the door on a rotating cylinder, he took the key and opened the door. There are six officials standing outside.

"You, you move so slowly, I'm already late for drawing my arms."

Account Secretary Liu Tu cursed Zhao Liu and hurried inside, followed by a stream of subordinate officials and yamen servants behind him.

Hu Cao's official duties are quite busy.

Fa Cao's servants were laughing and joking, taking their time.

"Why don't you see Commander Qi?" Zhao Liu asked.

"Shuai Tou Qi drank too much last night, so I helped him draw his eyebrows."

"The new county lieutenant has taken office." Zhao Liu said, "Commander Qi must not be caught red-handed."

"It's okay. I just arrived in Yanshi. This county captain should rest for two more days. Don't drink two more drinks now. Let me tell you, the merchant ship from Yangzhou yesterday paid tribute to two jugs of good wine..."

"Stop talking." Zhao Liu warned in a low voice, giving a quick look to the officers to look behind them.

~~

Before the second bang sounded, the county magistrate Lu Linghao was already handling official duties in the official residence.

Guo Huan came over with the official documents and said, "Please take a look at the Ming Mansion. These are the official documents that will be distributed today."

"I don't need to watch what you are doing, sir." Lu Linghao handed over an invitation and said, "Follow me to the banquet tonight."

"Guo Yuanliang?"

"The second son of Guo Wanjin, a wealthy man in Luoyang, has also been dealing with me for a long time..."

After saying this, an official outside the door said: "Your Majesty."

"Come in and talk."

"Yes, County Lieutenant Xue has already gone to the county office to take charge of matters. He is currently chatting with the officers at the Fa Cao and asking many questions."

Lu Linghao was a little surprised. He looked at Guo Huan and asked, "Yesterday, I reminded him that he can rest for a few days before taking action, right?"

"Young people are naturally anxious about doing things." Guo Huan said with a peacemaker's smile: "It can be seen that Zhuangyuan Lang is a person who does big things. He will not stay in the small county of Yanshi for a long time. He is just here to accumulate experience. Qualifications.”

"In that case, why go to Liucao?"

"It must be...something that needs to be investigated?"

"I'm not afraid even after I find out." Lu Linghao said with a righteous look on his face: "I have a clear conscience even if I stab him in front of the saint!"

"Having said that, if the matter gets serious and causes trouble for everyone." Guo Huan said with a smile: "It's better for the Ming government to keep things quiet." "Let's keep things quiet. If we leave him alone, I'm afraid he will have to inquire everywhere."

"Then, little old man, go make arrangements?"

"Go."

Guo Huan left Lingse and went all the way to Liucao's courtyard. When he turned around, he didn't see Xue Bai. He couldn't help but call over Zhao Liu, the handyman, and asked, "Where is the county captain?"

"I seem to be questioning Mr. Liu about the sex service. He went to the registration room to check the sex service register."

"Sex prostitute or sex slave?" Guo Huan actually had the guts to make a joke.

He had a chubby face, a ruddy complexion, and gray hair. He was the most popular among the officials, and everyone laughed.

"It's sex slaves."

"Where is Chief Sun? How can we let Mr. Liu talk to the county captain?"

"The chief went to the dock for inspection."

"Go and invite the county captain...invite him directly to the captain's house."

~~

Wei Xie is the exclusive public house for the county captain. It is not small. There are two rooms inside for the staff and the county captain, and there is also a tea room outside.

Xue Bai was led into Wei House by the officials. He looked around and saw no trace left by Wang Yansiam.

"It's so clean." He couldn't help but praise it.

Guo Huan smiled and said, "As long as Xue Lang is satisfied."

"Where are the items left behind by Lieutenant Wang after he committed suicide?"

"The servants around him took him back to his hometown... together with the corpse, the fallen leaves returned to their roots."

"It's a pity that after serving as an official, nothing was left."

"Wang County Lieutenant left behind a lot of cases." Guo Huan lamented, "With such a former County Lieutenant on the stand, the county office has accumulated too many cases, and Xue Lang is afraid that he will be burdened."

While they were talking, an official came over pushing a wheelbarrow, which was filled with files.

Xue Bai looked at the files and said, "Don't be afraid of being tired. If you don't work harder, how can you pass the exam and get promoted?"

"What Xue Lang said is true." Guo Huan handed over the file to Xue Bai and said with a smile: "The old man is still busy... If Xue Lang has something to do, he can call the old man at any time. He will come as soon as he is called."

"Thank you Guo Lushi."

……

In the afternoon of this day, Yin Liang went to Shouyang Academy. When he returned to Weijie, he saw Xue Bai sitting at the desk reading files.

"Young Master."

Yin Liang called out, stepped forward quickly, and whispered: "Wang Yansiam has a close relationship with Song Mian of Shouyang Academy. According to Song Mian, Wang Yansiam once asked him about Yin Weiji of Henan Province because he had a major case to report. .”

"Why are you asking Song Mian?"

"Wei Fuyin plans to open a new road in the east mountain of Yanshi County to facilitate travel between Luoyang and Yanshi. Therefore, he occasionally visits the Song family's Luhun Villa."

"Wang Yansiam has already complained to Wei Ji?"

"Probably not." Yin Liang said: "Only these are found so far."

"Don't worry, I just arrived in Yanshi and it's already very rewarding."

"Young Master, this is... these many files, when will you see them?"

Having said that, when Yin Liang worked as Yan Zhenqing's staff in Liquan County, he was not surprised. He immediately picked up a file and read it, and then started drafting the verdict.

The two of them stopped talking, and the sound of turning books could be heard from time to time in the room.

Afterwards, Xue Bai read Yin Liang's verdict, nodded in approval, and said, "Mr. Yin is skilled in government affairs and is ready to serve as an official in the court."

This was the promise he made when he asked Yin Liang to be the shogunate. When he was promoted, he would guarantee Yin Liang a place in the imperial examination and become an official.

By the time the two of them had written more than ten verdicts, Qi Chou, the leader of the capture team, also arrived. He was completely sober and said, "I was called to the dock by Chief Sun early in the morning, and I asked the county captain to forgive me." …”

"Just say it when you're drunk. It's your first time. I won't blame you, but I won't let you do it again."

Qi Chou was stunned, waiting for further explanation.

Yin Liang has handed over two pieces of paper and said: "Go and inform both parties of these cases that there will be a court hearing tomorrow at midnight."

"But, the villain is illiterate." Qi Chou looked at the paper and replied blankly.

Yin Liang saw many subordinate officials like this and said, "Then I will read it to you?"

"Don't dare, don't dare." Qi Chou could see that the county lieutenant and his staff were all veterans of officialdom and did not dare to act like fools anymore, so he hurriedly said: "Zhao Liu is literate. I will take him with you. Let's go now."

~~

The next day, before midnight, Lu Linghao learned that Xue Bai was going to open a court to deal with the case.

The news was originally sent to him by an official last night, but he was busy attending the banquet and had no time to pay attention to it at this time.

"The court is starting so soon? Will he be able to hear the case?"

"The staff member named Yin next to him is probably a veteran of Xingming." Guo Huan said: "He invited the Ming Dynasty to come and sit in court. Do I have to agree?"

"No." Lu Linghao didn't care much about the verdict of those cases, and generously delegated his power, saying: "Tell Mr. Xue that no matter how he sentences, this county will support it, just let it go."

"Here."

"If the county captain cannot handle the officers in the hall and the people are dissatisfied and cause trouble, he will immediately step in to maintain the dignity of the county office."

"Don't worry Mingfu."

Both of them felt that Xue Bai was really too hasty, starting to interrogate the case before he had a firm footing, and they were not afraid that these trivial cases would reveal all the truth and falsehoods of his new county lieutenant.

Guo Huan got the order and returned to the court. He heard the plaintiff and defendant outside the court noisy, while Xue Bai and Yin Liang were still getting familiar with the environment.

When he learned that the county magistrate was not coming, Xue Bai vacated the main seat and had someone move another chair to sit behind the koan.

"Then let's start the trial?"

"The county captain invites you."

Every case is trivial. In fact, those who can report the case to the county government are already among the more sensible people among the people.

In the first case to be tried, there was a man named Li Gao, whose ancestral home was in Yanshi County. He moved to Chang'an in his early years, and now he wants to move back. However, Tang law strictly restricted free migration, so Hucao had repeatedly vetoed his request.

But this man also persevered and kept handing in documents, and was arrested by the bad guys.

"According to the law of the Tang Dynasty, the rule of happy residence is that those who live in narrow villages are allowed to be lenient; those who live far away are allowed to be close; those who live in places with light service are allowed to be lenient. Jingzhao and Henan prefectures are not allowed to live in Yuzhou. "

Xue Bai read out the verdict expressionlessly, intending to deny Li Gao's request.

Guo Huan looked around and knew that this case was not that simple, because Li Gao would definitely be dissatisfied and would continue to argue.

Sure enough, when Li Gao heard this, he immediately knelt down in the hall and begged: "I beg the county captain to agree."

"Why do you have to move to Yanshi? Is it to avoid heavy taxes?"

"Because my mother is old and sick, her eyes, legs and feet are inconvenient. I hope to return to my hometown to take care of her, but every year I have to pay taxes and labor in Jingzhao Mansion."

"Take your grandma to the hall..."

This case is easy to say and difficult to say. The simplicity is that in fact, as long as you ask a few more questions, you can find a way to transfer Li Gao's residence according to the law; the difficulty is that it takes a lot of effort to transfer documents from Jingzhao Mansion.

After a moment, Xue Bai was stunned and still read the verdict expressionlessly.

"Li Gao, Yanshi, has perfected his filial piety. His mother is old and ill and cannot bear the consequences. He moved to his mother. He has no loss of household registration and no harm to the king. He is safe and secure. He is comfortable in both public and private affairs. Now he has moved his filial son to his loving mother and concubine in his homeland. If you have the heart to bear the burden of rice, you can rest assured that your mother will rely on the hope..."

The verdict was written by Yin Liang. In the Tang Dynasty, the word "filial piety" was one of the biggest legal rules. With Xue Bai's judgment, no one else could find fault.

Guo Huan looked at this scene, stroking his beard and thinking, thinking that this case can only show that Xue Bai is not afraid of trouble. He would rather cause trouble for Jingzhao Household Cao than know how to deal with unruly people.

"The next case..."

　I didn’t want to break the chapter, but now it’s too late to even have the first chapter~~The second chapter will be posted in the morning, so don’t wait~

　　

　

(End of this chapter)