Aspirations

Chapter 77 Subtlety
Just now, when he met Xu Heguang, Ma Zhanguo, Ding Heke, and Yang Jiang for the first time, Xia Xiang already knew it well. Among the four, Xu Heguang and Yang Jiang sang together, and Ma Zhanguo and Ding Heke were in love with each other.

Xia Xiang only knew about Xu Heguang's background and did not know the other. He only heard Lian Ruohan talking about the nepotism between Xu Heguang and Cui Xiang. He also had nothing to do with the former magistrate Hao Haiji being arbitrarily manipulated by Xu Heguang. have a number in mind.That's why he saw Cao Shujun's letter for the first time and thought it was a major event in the capital.At this time, if there is another change in the capital, he is really tired of dealing with it.

After reading the letter, Xia Xiang smiled gratifiedly.In the letter, Cao Shujun first asked Lian Ruohan with great concern if everything was well, and repeatedly told Xia Xiang not to make any plans against Lian Ruohan, Xia Xiang had Cao Shuli enough.

In addition, Cao Shujun mentioned two good news, one is that Cao Yongguo was promoted to the Minister of Rites, and the other is that he successfully made the emblem of Haojingchangzai, and signed an agreement with Haojingchangzai, and got the The due shares have officially become the shareholders who are always in good times.He also specifically emphasized that half of his shares belong to Xia Xiang.

Apart from the two big things, there was nothing else to do, but Cao Shujun babbled on a lot of insignificant and trivial things, it was really rare for him to have leisure time, and I don't know where he got so much talk, but he was able to gossip Xizai wrote a whole page, which made Xia Xiang feel helpless and amused.

Putting down the letter, Xia Xiang got up and pushed open the window. The sun outside the window was just right, and the scenery was not bad.Facing the window is a wintersweet, and beyond the wintersweet is a tall poplar.In late autumn, the leaves are yellow, the wind blows the leaves, and the yellow leaves fall down, which already means depression.

The capital is fine for the time being, and I don't know if the emperor's dragon body is getting better?And where did Li Dingshan and Xiao Jia go?Xia Xiang felt a little melancholy in his heart, thinking of Cao Shuli's gentleness like jade, he had some faint thoughts for no reason.

Just when he was lost in thought, Mantuo's voice came from outside the door.

"Xia Xianzun, Man Tuo asks to see you."

"Come in." Xia Xiang turned around and saw that Mantuo had changed into casual clothes and approached gracefully. He nodded and smiled, "Did you find anything by the Hutuo River?"

Mantuo shook his head, and there was a slight puzzlement on his flowery face: "Xiao Wu and I visited more than a dozen people who saw Dong Xian throwing into the river with their own eyes, and they all testified that Dong Xian was throwing himself into the river, and the place where he threw himself into the river was. On the bank of the river where Qingfenglou is located. Dong Xian had just thrown into the river, and Ma Xiaosan and his wife also jumped down. However, dozens of boatmen went down the river to salvage, only to find the bodies of Ma Xiaosan and his wife, but Dong Xian's body disappeared. ... Xiao Wu and I went down the river again, and walked ten miles away, and we haven't heard of anyone seeing a floating corpse."

Xia Xiang nodded. The Hutuo River is not fast. If Dong Xian's body is washed away by the river, it will surface within three days and be discovered by people on both sides of the strait. Can go to heaven?
"Strange, where did Dong Xian's body go?" Xia Xiang sat down and picked up the tea cup, only to find that there was no water in the cup, and he couldn't help thinking of Liu'er, who lived idle.Although Liu Er is young, she is very winking. She pours water from a cup, cleans the room, and arranges the bedding. She is all meticulous and thoughtful, and she is gentle and soft, and she speaks in a soft voice. .

Mantuo noticed the embarrassment of Xia Xiang being the county magistrate but no one was around him, and was stunned for a moment, then stepped forward and poured tea for Xia Xiang, and said, "It would be better if the county magistrate had a personal maid to serve, Liu Er. That's good..." After thinking about it for a while, he said, "Is it possible that Dong Xian didn't die, he swam to the bottom of the river and swam somewhere else?"

"It's also possible, if Dong Xian is a fish instead of a human." Xia Xiang took a sip of tea slowly, squinted his eyes to look at Mantuo, and suddenly smiled, "Miss Mantuo, in your opinion, even the little lady Let Liu'er serve me and be by my side, what is your intention?"

Man Tuo was stunned for a moment before following Xia Xiang's train of thought, and after thinking for a while, he said: "Little lady has a deep love for the county lord, and sending a maid to serve the county lord is naturally out of admiration and love for the county lord. .”

Xia Xiang nodded, but thought in his heart, Man Tuo seems to have a simple mind, but he is actually a smart person. She can see some things clearly, but she doesn't want to think too much, because the matter has nothing to do with her.After all, she is actually a pure-hearted person, following him, all she wants is to help him, so that he can deal with the third prince to the end.

But... Xia Xiang shook his head secretly. With his current status as a seventh-rank sesame official, he wanted to compete with the third prince, who was a prince and aristocrat, and he was no different from Dong Xian who committed suicide by throwing himself into the river.It's just that now he can't help himself and has nowhere to go. Knowing that he can't do it, he does it for the sake of a man.

If you save people's lives in order to report Jun's kindness, even if you fight with the third prince, it will not be a pity to die.

"There are two things about Mrs. Laomantuo..." Xia Xiang pondered, "one is to help me find a maid and a servant, and the other is to continue to visit Dong Xian's murder case to find out whether Dong Xian is alive or dead? If you want to see people die, you want to see corpses."

"Yes." Man Tuo took the order, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Do you still want me to help the county lord find candidates?"

"No need, the candidate for the sect has already been selected by this official." Xia Xiang smiled with satisfaction, "Ms. Mantuo guessed who it was?"

"I can't guess." Mantuo's true color directly extinguished Xia Xiang's thoughts of teasing her, "Xianzun please rest and say goodbye."

Looking at the figure of Mantuo leaving resolutely, Xia Xiang shook his head and smiled. Mantuo is happy and angry, and does not treat him differently because of the change of his status. She is a woman with a true temperament.

Xia Xiang spread out the letter and replied to Cao Shujun.He only talked about the scenery along the way and the true customs, and did not say much else. He also told Cao Shujuan to read more and not to slack off. A man born in the heaven and earth should make contributions and do more for the country and the people.At the end of the writing, he hesitated for a moment, but let Cao Shujun ask Cao Shuli how to do it on his behalf.

Xia Xiang also thought about writing a separate letter to Cao Shuli, but later felt that it was inappropriate. Although he and Cao Xiaoniang had a relationship, they did not have a covenant, let alone a private life. If they sent a letter, it would be superficial. It is meaningless to speak in general terms.Moreover, when he first came here, it was when he was completely clueless and confused, and he didn't have any thoughts about the love of his sons and daughters.

After writing the letter to Cao Shujun, Xia Xiang picked up the pen and wrote a long letter to Jin Jia.

Xia Xiang knew very well that even though he was a high school student and a true official, he still had a shallow foundation in the court.As the saying goes, there are people in the DPRK who are good officials. Although he and Jin Jia are friends of gentlemen, they can be considered to have similar temperaments and take care of each other as a matter of course.

Although Jin Jia is not a member of the court, he is a close minister of the emperor. If he speaks a few words for him, at least when a villain slanders the emperor, the emperor will not listen to the villain's one-sided words and be dissatisfied with him.

Xia Xiang's letter to Jin Jia was very long, but there was nothing in the letter about letting Jin Jia speak for him in front of the emperor. The whole chapter was about what he saw and heard along the way and what he wanted to do for the people. Dong Duan's determination to avenge his grievances, and his intention to let Haojingchang produce medicine beds and medicine chairs for the benefit of the common people. At the end of the article, he attached a poem, which is "Autumn Wind" by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty:
The autumn breeze rises, white clouds fly, and the vegetation falls yellow, and the geese return south.

The orchid is beautiful, the chrysanthemum is beautiful, and the beautiful woman can’t be forgotten.

Pan-buildings and boats rush toward the Fen River, and there are waves in the middle of the river.

The flute and drums sing and sing, and they are extremely happy and sorrowful.

How old are you when you are young!

After sealing the letter, Xia Xiang called out the door: "Xiao Wu."

"exist."

Xiao Wu responded and came to Xia Xiang. There were thin beads of sweat on his face, a piece of mud on his nose, and a weed in his hair, as if he had just come out of a dog hole.

Xia Xiang laughed dumbly: "How did it become like this?"

Xiao Wu chuckled and scratched his head: "Just now, I was wandering around in the backyard and fell into a hole. The hole is not deep, more than ten feet, but the inside is a bit dirty."

Why are there holes in the backyard?The well should be dry. Xia Xiang knows the tradition that the government does not repair the ya and the customer does not repair the store. It is normal for the government in Zhending County to fall into disrepair for a long time. How many people have been cut off but settled?"

Xiao Wu nodded and said yes, and said, "Fu Ke and others are locked in the prison, and Dong Duan, Wang Xianke and Wang Sun are placed in the inn."

Xia Xiang nodded and handed the letter to Xiao Wu: "Send it to the capital through the convoy of the commercial company that is always there, don't go to the official post."

As an official of the imperial court, Xia Xiang can pass letters through the official post, but since Xia Xiang has Lian Ruohan, a rich friend who owns the world's largest business, wouldn't it be a waste not to pass letters through the fleet of good times?

Xiao Wu took the letter in his hand and turned to go out.After a while, he turned around and returned, picked up Xia Xiang's towel and wiped his face, and smiled shyly: "I can't go to see Ling'er like this, sir, if there is no rush to deliver the letter, Xiao Wuxian Change your clothes and then go and live, okay?"

Xiao Wu actually knew how to dress up, Xia Xiang smiled happily, but he was not optimistic about Xiao Wu and Ling'er, Ling'er was too smart, Xiao Wu was not her opponent at all, and would happily help her if he was betrayed by her count money.

"No hurry, no hurry, you go and change a piece of clothes before you come back, I will write a few more letters, and you take them with you." Xia Xiang turned around and sat down, and wrote letters to Shen Bao, Zhang Hou and Teng Zhengyuan respectively. Here is a letter from the three of them, the content of which is similar, they all report safety and greet one or two, other than that, there is no extra words.

After a while, Xiao Wu changed into clean clothes and came back, took a letter and went to Xianju to meet Lian Ruohan, who arranged for Jingchang's motorcade in the firm to send it to the capital.

Not long after, Xia Xiang, accompanied by Xu Heguang and a few others, carried out the ascension ceremony.After meeting Xu Heguang, Ma Zhangguo, Ding Keke, and Yang Jiang, he walked around in a majestic circle under the line of three yamen officers, and Xia Xiang officially took office as the magistrate of Zhending County.

"Xia Xianzun, let's stop here today, and it won't be too late to handle official business tomorrow." After the ceremony, Xu Heguang thoughtfully reminded Xia Xiang, "Zhending's folk customs are simple and simple, and the people live and work in peace and contentment. Take a tour of the scenery of the Hutuo River, experience the sentiments of the people in Zhending, and feel the peace of the people in Zhending..."

"How long has the position of chief secretary been vacant?" Xia Xiang interrupted Xu Heguang, flipped through the files a few times, and asked abruptly, "Why didn't you report the vacancy of chief secretary to the Ministry of Officials?"

Xu Heguang said calmly: "Returning to the county lord, the vacancy of the master book is only half a year. The previous county magistrate Hao Xianzun said that he had already reported to the Ministry of officials, so it is not easy for me to ask too much. Now that the county magistrate has left office, we will wait Knowing that Hao Xianzun did not report to the Ministry of Officials, the reason for this is unknown to us."

Xia Xiang gave a meaningful "Oh", his eyes swept across Xu Heguang's respectful face and landed on Ma Zhanguo's face.Ma Zhanguo's eyelids twitched a few times, his mouth opened, he wanted to say something, but he swallowed the words again.

Xia Xiang knew in his heart that there must be something strange behind the vacancy of the master book, and he didn't point it out at the moment. Anyway, the matter was not in a hurry, so he skipped it: "Take Dong Duan and others to the second hall."

"Xia Xianzun, there is no need to rush to try Dong Duan's case. The county zun is tired all the way, so he should rest for a few days..." Xu Heguang smiled kindly and earnestly advised, "It's just a small case in a neighboring county. , why bother the county magistrate to keep it in mind."

Xia Xiang showed a slight impatience between his brows, and raised his eyebrows lightly: "What is the reason for Xu Xiancheng's repeated obstruction of this judge's trial? Could it be that this case has something to do with Xu Xiancheng?"

Ma Zhanguo secretly smiled, and Ding Ke looked at each other, and they nodded understandingly.The two were very clear in their hearts that Xu Heguang repeatedly prevented Xia Xiang from hearing the case, not because he had anything to do with Dong Duan's case. When he first took office, preconceived ideas prevailed, as long as he successfully obstructed Xia Xiang's trial for the first time, there would be a second and third time, and after three or five times, Xia Xiang would be swayed by him unconsciously.

This is what Xu Heguang used to do. Ma Zhanguo knew it very well. He thought that Hao Haiji was obstructed by Xu Heguang again and again.It's not that Hao Haiji is not smart enough, but Xu Heguang is too shrewd. In the name of thinking of others, people fall into his trap unintentionally.

Unexpectedly, Xia Xianzun could not be fooled by Xu Heguang at such a young age, Ma Zhanguo was secretly happy.

Xu Heguang blushed, and said with a sneer: "Don't dare, dare not, how dare I obstruct the trial of the county magistrate. I have nothing to do with this case, and I don't know them... Cough cough, Ding Butou, not happy Go pick up some criminals."

"Yes." Ding Ke responded, bowed his hands to Xia Xiang, and strode out of the lobby.

Xia Xiang and his party came to the second hall, and as soon as they sat down, Ding Ke led Dong Duan, Wang Xianke and Wang Sunshi in.

The layout of the second hall is similar to the lobby, but the place is slightly smaller.Several people from Dong Duan went to the hall, and gave a deep salute to Xia Xiang, who was in the middle: "Dong Duan, a small man, has seen the county honorable."

Xu Heguang coughed majestically: "Presumptuous, kneel down and talk!"

"No ceremony." Xia Xiang waved his hand, and gave Xu Heguang a dissatisfied look, "The people have already been wronged, and this official avenging the people's injustice is his duty and his own duty, why should the people kneel down? say?"

Dong Duan was dressed in commoner clothes, the bruises on his face were still there, but he stood upright, his face was washed very clean, his nose was straight and his mouth was square, although he was in a mess, he was dignified, his lips were tightly pressed, his teeth were clenched, and his eyes were uneven. The color of dissatisfaction.

Wang Xianke and Wang Sunshi lowered their brows and they did not dare to look directly at Xia Xiang. They pulled each other a few times, and Wang Xianke smiled embarrassingly: "Xia Xianzun, the young man has eyes and doesn't know Mount Tai, and he is offended. Lord Zun has a lot of..."

Xia Xiang waved his hand and said pleasantly, "Wang Xianke, this official asks you, did you see it with your own eyes that Fu Ke murdered this official in public?"

Wang Xianke nodded again and again: "I saw it with my own eyes, I saw it with my own eyes. Fu Ke was extremely vicious and intended to murder Xia Xianzun in public. Not only the young man saw it with his own eyes, but the hundreds of people present also saw it clearly."

"Yes, yes, the little girl can also testify." Wang Sun also hurriedly agreed.

"Take Fu Ke." Xia Xiang waved his hand and gave another order.

Ding can go away in response.

"Dong Duan, this official asks you, have you ever witnessed the murder of this official by Fu Ke in public?" Xia Xiang looked at Dong Duan.

Dong Duan said indifferently: "Xiaomin saw it with his own eyes. However, the crime of officials wanting to rule the people is just a matter of one word, why bother? Fu Ke murdered the county official in public. Both Ma Xiaosan and his wife died by accident, it is a trivial matter that is not worth mentioning. It is a grassroots, a grassroots, a grassroots, and a grassroots, life is like a grass, it really does not happen."

"Presumptuous, to be so disrespectful in front of the county magistrate, Dong Duan, aren't you afraid of eating a board?" Xu Heguang said angrily, "Xiaxian county loves the people like a son, how can you slander it indiscriminately!"

"Love the people like a child? Haha, what a man who loves the people like a child!" Dong Duan laughed, his smile distorted and deformed, "Xia Xianzun is the age of the weak, he has not yet married, and he has no children, how can he realize how difficult it is to be a parent? Xia Xianzun can do it with a clear mirror on his head and a mirror in his heart."

"Come here, Zhangzui!" Xu Heguang was furious, Dong Duan was just a commoner, a scholar from a neighboring county, who dared to be so disrespectful to the county respect is disrespectful to Zhending County, disrespectful to him, not to teach Dong Duan a lesson , Dong Duan does not know the sky is high and the earth is thick.

Xu Heguang gave an order, and one of the yamen servants walked away, holding a wooden plank, and was about to hit Dong Duan in the face.

"Stop!" Xia Xiang yelled angrily, and looked at Xu Heguang coldly, "Xu County Chancellor, is this officer judging the case or you?"

Xu Heguang suddenly became embarrassed, took a step back, and bowed to salute: "His Majesty Xia, please calm down, the next official is only dedicated to maintaining the court, and has no intention of overstepping."

The yamen servant was stunned on the spot with a wooden board in his hand, not knowing what to do, Ma Zhanguo snorted coldly: "Jiang Xiaoqi, if you still don't retreat, is it possible that the county magistrate Xia will invite you to go down?"

Jiang Xiaoqi didn't step back, but subconsciously looked at Xu Heguang, and cast an inquiring look at Xu Heguang.Xu Heguang's heart was full of energy, how could Jiang Xiaoqi be so stupid, and waited for his order in front of the county magistrate, where should the county magistrate be?Thinking about it again, it is no wonder that Jiang Xiaoqi is like this. When Hao Haiji was in office, Jiang Xiaoqi always obeyed his orders.

(End of this chapter)