The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 85 It’s not easy to use a soft tongue

In early February, just after the beginning of spring, the continuous spring rain arrived as promised.

On the second day after the funeral report from the imperial court was delivered to Anding County, the old man of the Xue family, Xue Biao, also passed away suddenly.

Jiedu Mansion held a mourning ceremony for the late emperor, and the Xue Family Mansion also held a grand funeral for Mr. Xue.

Shi Kuangwei changed into linen mourning clothes in the mansion, knelt down in the direction of Kaifeng, cried hypocritically, and went directly to the Xue family mansion to express his condolences.

The Xue family was very surprised to see Shi Kuangwei coming in mourning clothes.

Lao Shi declared in a serious manner that he was the younger generation of Mr. Xue, how much he respected Mr. Xue, and how Mr. Xue taught him back then.

Lao Shi knelt before Mr. Xue in the mourning hall of the Xue family and cried bitterly, his face covered with runny tears. He was even more into the scene than mourning the death of the late emperor.

The Xue brothers also gratefully paid tribute to Lao Shi as a family member. Both parties were polite and did not forget to comfort each other.

Secretly they are incompatible with each other and fight with each other with bayonets, but it does not affect the conversation and laughter on the surface at all.

Zhu Xiu wanted to follow him to offer condolences, but Xue Xiuliang shouted back with red eyes.

Those who didn't know better thought that he and Zhu Xiu had a hatred for killing their father and taking away their wives.

Of course, Zhu Xiu would not let himself be bored. He rode on Hei Dan and took Ma San, then turned around and went straight to the home of Judge Song Shen.

Before Zhu Xiu went to Liangyuan, Song Shen and Pei Jin reported illness at home one after another, which greatly affected the operation of Jiedu Mansion. Zhu Xiu was so exhausted that he could barely maintain the normal development of various work of Jiedu Mansion.

The worst impact of Song Shen and Pei Jin's resignation was that the officials in the Jiedu Prefecture were panicked. All kinds of rumors were flying all over the sky. The officials below were impetuous and unable to work with peace of mind.

If Jiedu Mansion wants to appease people's hearts and win the support of officials of all sizes, it must win over Song Shen and Pei Jin.

Otherwise, Shi Kuangwei's Jiedu authority could only be limited to the Yajun, and he would not even be able to leave Jiedu Mansion.

Unless a war is launched to cleanse the Xue family and all officials who have surrendered to the Xue family.

As a result, Zhangyi Town's internal vitality will be greatly damaged, and externally it may lead to strong suppression by the imperial court. The historian's popularity in Zhangyi will also cease to exist.

Zhu Xiu knew that he had heavy responsibilities during this trip, so he originally wanted to inquire about Song Shenping's preferences and see if he could accommodate him.

To his disappointment, since Song Shen became a judge, except for working in the official office of Jiedu Mansion, most of the time he lived in seclusion and rarely participated in any banquets and social interactions. Even when the Xue family invited him to be a guest in the mansion, they refused.

Song Shensuan was the product of the struggle and compromise between the Xue family and Shi Kuangwei over the position of judge, because he was from outside the state and had no roots in Changyi Town.

And he also has real talents and knowledge, and has good abilities. He manages the money, food, and treasury affairs in an orderly manner. Neither Jiedu Mansion nor the Xue family can do without him.

On the surface, Song Shen is a mediator, but in fact he still prefers the Xue family. After all, within Zhangyi Town, except for Yajun, which is firmly controlled by Shi Kuangwei, the Xue family still has the upper hand in other powers.

He came to visit someone for a favor, but he didn't know what the victim's preferences were. After much deliberation, Zhu Xiu didn't know what gift to give, so he simply brought a few kilograms of white salt to express his feelings.

In front of the front door of an ordinary house, Ma San knocked the door knocker. After a while, an old servant pulled the latch of the door and opened the gap to look at the person who came to the door.

After explaining his intention, the old servant said wait a moment and went in to report. After a while, Song Shen hurried over to greet him.

"I don't know if Secretary Zhu Zhang is here, but Song is not welcome from afar. Please come quickly!"

Song Shen, who was dressed in plain clothes, still smiled in a friendly manner and opened the middle door to greet her.

"Mr. Song, you're welcome. Now that I have been relieved of the post of secretary by Commander-in-Chief, you'd better call me by my first name, so as not to cause ridicule."

Zhu Xiugong cupped his hands with a look of sadness on his face.

"Zhu Shaolang." Song Shen smiled, but there was a curse in his heart.

Jiedu Mansion announced that you would be imprisoned for questioning, but why didn't you stay in the prison and ride a donkey around all day long? This made Xue Xiuliang go to Jiedu Mansion several times to protest.

This boy Zhu is really bad for being a good guy even though he got an advantage.

Song Shen led Zhu Xiu to the main room. This house was just an ordinary two-entry courtyard, completely incomparable with the Xue family's mansion.

Not many servants were seen along the way. In the cold spring weather, Song Shen was not seen wearing a leather cloak, only a patched coat.

Entering the main room, Zhu Xiu saw several large boxes placed in the corners with red ropes tied to them.

A gift note was placed on the table. Song Shen took it and handed it to the old servant, asking him to go down and prepare tea.

"Xue Sima visited the humble residence last night and didn't have time to clean up. I'm sorry, Mr. Zhu." Song Shen said with a smile.

Zhu Xiuqian laughed twice, and generously asked Ma San to give the bag containing the white salt: "Please accept the fine white salt, Mr. Song."

Song Shen looked at it, stroked his beard and said with a smile: "I have lived in Anding for a long time, and I can be considered half a Jingzhou native. Now this is the first time I have eaten salt produced in Jingzhou. The taste is really worth remembering!"

"Who says it's not the case!" Zhu Xiu exclaimed, "The people of Zhangyi are suffering from a lack of salt and have a hard life. From now on, we will be able to eat our own white salt, and we will no longer have to exchange the food we have grown with hard work to other states." Mixed salt mixed with grit.”

Song Shen said: "If we have the salt and profit in our hands, the future development of Zhangyi Town will be limitless!"

Zhu Xiu said with a smile: "Mr. Song has been a judge for many years and is good at tax matters. If the salt income is handed over to him, he will definitely be able to plan carefully for the Changyi Army and save his family."

Song Shen shook his head and said with a smile: "A certain person has little talent and little knowledge. I'm afraid it will be difficult for him to take on important responsibilities."

"Hehe, Mr. is too modest."

Song Shen responded with a smile and remained silent.

Zhu Xiu said calmly: "With your wisdom, sir, you can understand my intention without me having to say anything. Now that Xue wants to replace Shi Jia as the master of righteousness, Xue relies on nothing more than money and food inside, and nothing more outside." They are related by marriage to the Dingnan Army and Fengxiang Jiedushi Jiao Jixun.

Now that Jiedu Mansion has salt profits, it has undoubtedly cut off the Xue family's arm, forcing them not to exploit the people by selling high-priced salt, and the Xue family is no longer needed for the food and salary supply of the Ya army.After all, the Dingnan Army and Jiao Jixun were from outside the town. Even if they wanted to support the Xue family, they could not blatantly use force to coerce them.

After all, the imperial court still has jurisdiction over them, and a private attack on a feudal town will never be allowed by the imperial court. "

Song Shen nodded with a smile and listened very carefully.

Zhu Xiu added: "Right now, Mr. Song has the power of the treasury. The more than 2000 shi of grain in your hand is the cornerstone of the stability of the army's morale. Before the summer grain harvest, these grains are crucial. Commander-in-Chief, please express your gratitude to Mr. Song." The military and civilians are our top priority, and we must not go astray at this critical moment."

Song Shen twisted his beard and chuckled: "Zhu Shaolang's advice is not as nice as Xue Sima's."

Zhu Xiu laughed dumbly, pointed to a few big boxes in the corner and said, "I'm afraid the gifts are not as generous as those given by Mr. Xue! But why do you still refuse to hand over the keys to the treasury to Mr.

Song Shen's eyes flashed slightly and he said with a smile: "Master Zhu, why don't you guess why?"

Zhu Xiu cupped his hands and said solemnly: "Because Mr. Song is a truly insightful man! You know that if the Xue family is in power, it will not last long! It will undoubtedly be a disaster for the army and people of Zhangyi!"

Song Shen's smile gradually subsided, and he was silent for a moment and said, "Why do you say that?"

Zhu Xiu stood up and said with some sadness: "For his own selfish interests, Mr. , Fu Xue's family's private interests! How can a person who is so inconsiderate to the people be the leader of justice?"

Song Shen lowered his eyelids and remained silent.

Zhu Xiu then said: "The Xue family's fight for power is just to climb high and seek personal gain for the family. Have they ever really considered the people of Zhangyi? Mr. Song also came from a poor family. At that time, he was a high school Jinshi at a weak age. "Jing Nan Ce" also caused a sensation in Luoyang, how could you now surrender to a local tyrant and evil gentry like Xue who is short-sighted and unkind for his wealth?"

Song Shen pursed her lips, her face was full of emotion, and she couldn't help but be surprised: "How do you know what I did in the old days?"

Zhu Xiu smiled slightly, and immediately shook his head and recited a few sentences: "'Jingnan is a narrow place, straddling the north and south. How can the Gao family steal it for a long time if it has no virtue? The imperial court should send Wang Shi to decide it, connecting Nanyang to the north and Yuanyue to the south. , advance on the Pseudo-Chu, and frighten Sichuan and Sichuan from the west. The officers and soldiers of the three sincere armies are looking forward to it, and the people are looking forward to it." Song Shenpo was a little restless, his face was red, and he repeatedly cupped his hands and said: "I am ashamed, I am young and ignorant at that time, and I don't know how high the sky is. In a moment of anger, he made rude remarks against the government."

Zhu Xiu shook his head and said solemnly: "Mr. Song's words are wrong! Although this article is biased, every word is full of passion, showing the heroic ambition of our young people to pacify the world! As soon as this article was published, Luoyang paper was expensive. Mr. Song's name is famous in the imperial capital, and he can be regarded as a role model for aspiring young people among the scholars."

Zhu Xiuyi's overwhelming praise made Song Shen's scalp numb. He stood up in panic and waved his hands, his face flushed: "Stay here, stay here! Zhu Shaolang was so complimentary! Because of this article, a certain person offended the then Grand Master and powerful officials. An Zhongjie was imprisoned, and his friends had to seek help from many sources to save him from death. The article was also ordered to be destroyed by An Zhongjie, and it should not be circulated. At that time, Song was just an arrogant scholar, how could he deserve such praise from Zhu Shaolang! "

"Uh"

Zhu Xiuyi smacked her lips and was not ashamed of her rainbow fart offensive at all. She said seriously: "Anyway, Mr. Song could write this article back then, which is enough to worry about the country and the people! Why sit back and watch Xue Xue now?" Do you want to abuse the people and stand idly by?"

Song Shen's expression changed, and he looked a little guilty. He sighed longly:
"The world is difficult and it is not easy to survive. How can we have the world in mind?"

Zhu Xiu solemnly said: "My mentor once gave me four words before I left, and I will give them to you today!"

Song Shen was startled, and stood up straight unconsciously, cupping his hands as if listening: "I wonder which four characters it is?"

Zhu Xiu spat out word after word, each word was like a thousand catties of stone, impacting the ground with sound:

"Don't forget your first heart!"

Song Shen's lips moved, her eyes were red, and there seemed to be thousands of words in her throat that she wanted to pour out.

"Song Shen, you have learned a lesson!" Song Shen bowed his head to Zhu Xiu and touched the ground.

Zhu Xiu turned aside, only willing to accept a half-gift from him, and said with a smile: "Sir, there is no need to be too polite, please get up quickly! This is a gift from my mentor, and I will give it to you today. I am brave enough to accept half a courtesy for my mentor!"

"It should, it should!" Song Shen wiped the corners of his eyes.

Seeing that the fire was almost done, Zhu Xiu said with a smile: "I would like to say something from the bottom of my heart. Sir, you should know that helping the Xue family is like helping Zhou to harm. Only by helping Shi Jie Shuai can we still keep our original intention of praying for the people."

Song Shen smiled and nodded: "I know, I know, I believe what Zhu Shaolang said!"

Zhu Xiu was overjoyed and his smile became even brighter: "Mr. Song promised to draw a clear line with the Xue family from now on and serve Shi Jieshuai wholeheartedly? In this case, please give me the key to the treasury~"

Zhu Xiu reached out her hand expectantly.

Song Shen shook his head: "Forgive me, Master Zhu, but I still can't give it to you."

Zhu Xiu's smile froze, and she was about to question him angrily, but Song Shen said with a bitter face: "It's not right, Song doesn't know right from wrong, he really can't help himself."

Song Shen pointed to some boxes in the corner: "Does Mr. Zhu know what is in the boxes?"

Zhu Xiu said disdainfully: "It's nothing more than gold, silver, wealth and silk."

Song Shen shook his head, pulled him aside, opened the box, and felt a strong smell of herbs.

"Hiss~are these all medicinal materials?"

Zhu Xiu was shocked. Several large boxes were filled with various medicinal materials, weighing dozens of kilograms. Is Song Shen using the medicine for food?
"That's right." Song Shen smiled bitterly and said sadly: "I have been poor since I was a child, my father died early, and I was raised by my widowed mother alone. She worked hard to support me in my studies. Whether it was the tribute examination in Yunzhou or the provincial examination in Luoyang, My mother is always with me. Now my mother is old and seriously ill and needs a lot of medicinal materials to stay alive.

Over the years, it was only with the help of Mr. , supplying all the needed medicinal materials. I don’t owe Mr. Xue, but I can’t live without Mr. Xue.”

Zhu Xiu was speechless. It turned out that this was the fundamental reason why Song Shen was unwilling to join Shi Kuangwei.

Looking at the large boxes full of medicinal materials, most of them are not expensive, but the dosage is too large, and they must be supplied on time. In the entire Changyi Town, only the Xue family can obtain them through stable trade channels.

"Master Zhu, let's go. At present, Song can barely maintain the stability of the situation only if the two parties help each other. The collection of food in the treasury is very important. If it is handed over to either party, it will cause a great shock to the other party, so be careful."

Song Shen sighed and bowed his head to see off the guest.

Zhu Xiu shook his head and sneered, "Even Li Guangbo is dead, so Mr. Song thinks the situation can be stabilized?"

Song Shen's expression changed, but he finally shook his head and sat down, closing his eyes and saying nothing.

"Alang! Alang! It's not good, the old lady is ill again, go and have a look!" Suddenly, the old servant shouted urgently outside the hall.

Song Shen was shocked, rushed out of the house like a gust of wind, and ran to the back house.

Zhu Xiu hesitated for a while, and followed to have a look.

In a sunny bedroom in the back house, you can smell the strong medicinal smell from a long distance away. In the yard, two servant women are busy cooking herbs.

Entering the house, they saw a thick mattress on top of the kang, and an old woman lying on her back. The wool felt that was originally covering her body was lifted, revealing a skinny and skinny body in single clothes.

The old woman had sunken eye sockets, a sallow complexion, purple spots on her neck, deformed knees, swollen calves, and large areas of petechiae on her legs.

"Mother~mother~" Song Shen called in a low voice, took a bowl of soup and carefully fed it into the old woman's mouth.

Zhu Xiu took a closer look and saw that the old woman's tooth sockets were black and mostly empty. Many of her teeth had fallen out and her gums were bleeding.

After drinking some decoction, the old woman's heavy and violent breathing subsided.

"Mr. Song, may I ask what the old lady's disease is?" Zhu Xiu whispered.

Song Shen gently wiped the medicine stains on the mother's mouth and sighed: "Many doctors have seen it, but no one can explain the specific symptoms. They can only use some prescriptions to nourish qi, nourish blood, remove silt and relieve pain. Over the years, there has been no improvement. .”

"May the old lady live a long life?"

"I'm only 52 years old. I started getting sick almost ten years ago. I didn't pay much attention to it at first, but I didn't expect it to get worse." Song Shen's tone was low, full of regret and pain.

Zhu Xiu was surprised that he was only 52 years old, but he looked as old as seventy or eighty years old.

Zhu Xiu carefully observed Song's mother's symptoms and suddenly said: "At the beginning of the illness, was the old lady often agitated, irritable, vomiting due to body heat, and also had diarrhea symptoms? Later on, she was often prone to colds and heat. If she had a child Are the wounds bleeding and difficult to heal?"

Song Shen's hand holding the medicine bowl trembled, and she turned around suddenly, her voice trembling: "How did you know? My mother's symptoms when she first got sick were exactly the same as what you said!"

"Well" Zhu Xiu didn't reply immediately and fell into deep thought.

Song Shen threw down the bowl, and rushed to Zhu Xiu like a madman, grabbed his arm, and said incoherently, "Could it be that you are also proficient in medical skills? Mr. Master has four qualities and four qualities. He is a generation of celebrities. He...he knows this What is the disease? Can it be cured?"

Zhu Xiu hurriedly comforted him: "Mr. Song, please be patient! I don't know medical skills, and my teacher is not good at it either. I just know a few folk remedies, which may be effective for the old lady's illness."

Song Shen stared at him with a pair of red eyes, and then knelt down with a bang: "If Mr. Zhu can cure my mother, or...or relieve her illness, Song Shen is willing to be a cow or a horse, and do whatever he wants!"

"Mr. Song's words are serious, please get up quickly!"

Zhu Xiu quickly helped him up, "I remember my teacher once introduced several difficult and complicated diseases. Judging from the symptoms, they are somewhat similar to the old lady's. But after all, it has not been verified, and I am not sure whether it will be effective. I will be allowed to go back. Think about it and prepare."

Song Shen choked and nodded, as if grasping a life-saving straw.

His mother was seriously ill and endured constant torture, but he was willing to try whenever there was a little hope.

The groggy Mother Song was trembling in pain again, and Song Shen hurriedly turned around to take care of her.

Zhu Xiu stayed for a while longer, sighed and left quietly.

(End of this chapter)