Guide to traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty

May 16th, evening.

The county magistrate Xiang Bi was enjoying the cool weather in the inner courtyard of the county government office. There was a small table beside him with rice wine and preserved meat on it.

The maid fanned herself aside, drank some wine from the magistrate, and fell asleep unconsciously.

"Ms. sir, sir..." the old slave came over and called out softly.

Xiang Zhixian is still sleeping. There seems to be beautiful things in his dream, and he has a smile on his face.

The old slave asked the maid to step back, gently patted Xiang Bi on the shoulder, and said in a loud voice: "Mr. Bai Aisi, I need to see you for something."

"Um...oh." Xiang Zhixian finally woke up.

The old slave repeated: "Bai Yasi wants to see you."

Xiang Zhixian sat up straight, straightened his clothes and said, "Let him come in."

Not long after, Bai Chongwu followed the old slave in. His plump body suddenly leaned forward, and he knelt on the ground and cried: "The county magistrate must make the decision for the Bai family! Wuwuwuwu..."

Xiang Zhixian was confused and said quickly: "Stand up and speak."

Bai Chongwu was still lying on the ground: "Last night, bandits from Heifeng Village came to Shangbai Village with open fire and plundered. My family's money and food were robbed, my grandmother was frightened to death, and many people in the village were killed..."

"Is there such a thing?" Xiang Zhixian was shocked.

Bai Chongwu continued: "There were two thieves who were caught by the villagers. They... they said they ordered the county magistrate and Zhu Zhushu. I work in the county government, how come I don't know who the county magistrate is? That is absolutely unbelievable. But the rumors have spread, and the villagers are making trouble and refusing to pay taxes. Even in several nearby villages, the people are frightened and confused. They don’t believe it was the county magistrate who instigated it, but they believe that Master Zhu has something to do with it!"

"Of course not me!"

Xiang Zhixian stood up in confusion and hurriedly defended: "I am a serious Jinshi, how can I collude with the bandits?"

Bai Chongwu added: "Li Erlang of the Zhou family was injured in six places on his body because he fought against the thieves. Fortunately, thanks to the blessing of his ancestors, Li Erlang finally saved his life."

Xiang Zhixian, who had just stood up, felt like a bolt from the blue. His legs became weak and he sat back down.

If he doesn't give Li Tongpuan an explanation, his career will be ruined!

Jinshi in the Song Dynasty were not valuable because there were too many of them, and it depended on the attributes of the official who sent them.

Xiang Bi passed the B-level Jinshi examination and was initially awarded the rank of ninth-grade general, official, and Nanhai county captain. After going around in circles for several years, and even giving gifts to officials in the capital, he was promoted to the eighth rank, Congzhenglang, and the magistrate of Xixiang County.

Although Li Hanzhang's father was also from the eighth grade, he was Xuanyi Lang.

Congzhenglang only selects people.

Xuanyi Lang is a capital official!

The promotion speed of Beijing officials is very fast, and the assignment has nothing to do with the rank. Even the ninth rank can serve as the governor of the state.

When Su Shi was the magistrate of Mizhou, he was just a seventh-ranking official in the capital.

"It was definitely not my instigation!" Xiang Zhixian emphasized again.

Bai Chongwu gritted his teeth: "It's impossible for the county magistrate to do such a thing, but it's hard to say that Mr. Zhu is a rebel. Heifeng Village has been here for many years. He only robbed passing merchant ships and never robbed nearby villages. . How dare they do this if there is no one in the county government to instruct them?"

As if grasping a life-saving straw, Xiang Zhixian slapped his thigh and said: "I have long felt that that guy is not a kind person, and now it is true that his evil nature is hard to change!"

"Please ask the county magistrate to make the decision!" Bai Chongwu cried.

He swore to the magistrate: "I will definitely make the decision for the people and will never allow thieves and bandits to cause trouble. However... Zhu Er has an official status, so he cannot be taken down immediately. He must be aware of the court before he can do anything."

Although he knew Xiang Bi was stalling for time, what he said was not wrong. He really could not dispose of the main book at will. Bai Chongwu retreated and asked for the next best thing: "Please ask the county magistrate to gather the village soldiers to eliminate the scourge of Heifeng Village!"

Xiang Zhixian slapped his thigh and said, "We must suppress the bandits."

Bai Chongwu added: "We can't use all the army soldiers. Zhu Er is also the county captain, and he has colluded with the bandits. Either use Baojia rural soldiers, or ask the state to send patrol troops."

"It's feasible, recruit Baojia rural soldiers to serve as archers temporarily!" Xiang Zhixian quickly expressed his position.

In the Song Dynasty, there were two police-like systems, one was called the Inspection Department and the other was called the County Lieutenant Department.

Not every county has an inspection department. In less densely populated areas, only two or three states share one inspection department. And close to the capital, a county has an inspection department.

If you ask the magistrate to mobilize patrol troops, you will have to alert the magistrate, which will make the matter completely serious.

The magistrate, who was not as powerful as the county magistrate and had certain power to recruit troops, said to the magistrate: "I will issue an order tomorrow. Each township will select eighty soldiers, and the county government will select another twenty soldiers. Two hundred and sixty people are enough." ?”

Bai Chongwu said: "If it is not enough, Shangbai Village can recruit fifty soldiers. The village has been robbed, and every family wears sackcloth and mourns. The villagers have become sworn in with those thieves!"

"This will definitely defeat the thief." Xiang Zhixian said.

He also asked his servants to get some money and forced it into Bai Chongwu's hands, which was regarded as a personal solace payment for the Bai family.

After finally sending Bai Chongwu away, Xiang Biku sat in the shade of a tree in a daze.

He was about to cry at the moment. He would definitely not be able to pass this year's performance assessment.

Suppressing bandits costs money. How can the landlords pay the taxes honestly if they allocate money and food?

If a county magistrate wants to be promoted, he must pay enough taxes for at least three consecutive years. If the tax amount is not enough, then forget about anything.

But Li Tongfang was the one responsible for collecting taxes. If he offended this person, even if he paid, it would mean he had not paid. We must first eliminate the mountain bandits, explain to the state magistrate, and calm the hearts of the country gentry.

"Why don't you die on your own, that bastard Zhu Er!" Xiang Zhixian became angrier as he thought about it.

He didn't care whether it was Master Zhu's instigation or not. Anyway, he had to find someone to blame and vent his anger on, and Zhu Zongdao, who was a rebel, was the best candidate.

what to do?

what to do?

Xiang Zhixian was distraught. He got up and walked around. Suddenly, he had an idea: If he couldn't figure it out, he could ask someone to point him out.

"Bring Bai Yasi back!" Xiang Zhixian ordered his servants.

After a while, Bai Chongwu left and returned.

Xiang Zhixian stopped pretending and asked straight to the point: "Do you have any good ideas to help me get out of this predicament?"

Bai Chongwu lowered his head and said: "The people in Heifeng Village are not bandits."

"What is it if it's not a mountain bandit?" Xiang Zhixian asked doubtfully.

"They were rebels," Bai Chongwu said in detail. "Zhu Zongdao was forced to recruit people, but he never gave up on his traitorous intentions and colluded with the bandits to rebel. Even the husband of Li Tong's family was injured by the rebels. The county magistrate worked hard without caring about his own life. , led the local soldiers to quell the chaos bravely, and finally wiped out all the rebels. Zhu Er, the leader of the rebels, will also commit suicide out of fear of his crime!"

The magistrate was dumbfounded when he heard this.

Bai Chongwu continued: "Xixiang County is plagued by wars and disasters, and the people are miserable. You can ask the court to reduce taxes. Otherwise, if the taxes are pushed too far, civil unrest will inevitably occur again."

Xiang Zhixian was silent.

He had only one choice. Let Mr. Zhu take the blame, which would not only help calm the people and put an end to the chaos, but also avoid the negative responsibility of tax collection.

If there are rebels under your own rule, you can also blame your predecessor or former magistrate.

It was Zhu Zongdao who was the former magistrate who forced rebellion, and it was Zhu Zongdao who was the former magistrate who recruited peace. Now that this guy has surrendered and rebelled again, although Xiang Zhixian has a small responsibility, the court has no reason to blame him.

There are unscrupulous people in the poor mountains and rivers, and Xiangzhi County was really frightened by these unscrupulous people. He stood up straight, straightened his clothes, and bowed to Bai Chongwu: "Thank you very much, Your Majesty, for your teaching. I can't thank you enough!"

…

Wish the house.

"Is Bai Zongwang dead?" Master Zhu asked.

Xiaobai said: "He is indeed not dead, but his mother was scared to death."

Master Zhu asked again: "Have you ever fought?"

Xiaobai said: "I'm not too sure. The news is very confusing. Some said that dozens of bandits died, and some said that hundreds of villagers died. I sent people to Heifeng Village to inquire, but they were not allowed to enter the mountain. . The bandits there are all panicking, fearing that something big has happened, and the leader of the village, Yang Jun, is probably dead or injured."

"That's good!"

Zhu Zhu actually clapped his hands and laughed: "With the loss of troops and generals, Black Wind Stronghold will definitely be easy to capture. When I gather all the troops and horses, and destroy the stronghold in one fell swoop, won't it be a great achievement? By then, I will be so majestic, which official will dare to be disobedient , which landowner dares not to pay taxes?"

This guy is evil-hearted and just uses bandits as guns.

It's best if you can kill the old white man. If you fail, then turn to the bandits.

The young white member’s companion smiled and said, “I wish you a wonderful plan, sir.”

Zhu Zhushu said: "I won't forget your benefits. When Heifeng Village is destroyed, the government will organize households and people. I will sell some of the good fields around Heifeng Village to you at a low price. I also want some, and the remaining The next one will be given to the magistrate."

Xiaobai said: "I want tea mountain."

Zhu Zhu said: "If the tea mountain is not given to the county magistrate, I will get 70% and you will get 30%."

"You are fair and righteous!" Xiaobai was overjoyed.

If Li Hanzhang hadn't been killed by bandits, he might have really fulfilled Zhu Zongdao's wishes. Because he is also the county captain, suppressing bandits is his duty, and he has full authority to handle this matter.

The next day, Master Zhu was called to the county magistrate.

When Xiang Zhixian met, he asked, "Did you know that Shangbai Village was robbed by bandits?"

Master Zhu looked surprised: "Where did the bandit come from? He actually ate the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard."

Xiang Zhixian said: "There are rumors going viral now that you are colluding with bandits."

"That's absolutely not the case!"

Zhu Zhushu was filled with righteous indignation and said: "Please allow me to recruit rural soldiers and go immediately to exterminate the bandits. Only in this way can I prove my innocence."

Xiang Zhixian said: "You don't have to go."

Zhu Zhu stood up abruptly, held up his hands and said: "I am the chief, and it is my duty to lead troops to suppress bandits. I cannot restrain my hands and feet because of a few rumors. County Lord, if I don't suppress the bandits myself, won't I be forever?" Carrying the stigma of colluding with thieves? I ask the county magistrate to fulfill his promise!"

Youyou asked the magistrate: "Did you know that the husband of Judge Li Tong's family was a guest in Shangbai Village a few days ago? He was injured in six places on his body and almost died under the knife of the thieves. He also interrogated the captured thieves. The thieves said , you and I secretly instigated it."

"Li...the husband of Li Tongpan's family?"

Master Zhu Zhu was dumbfounded. From beginning to end, he had no idea that Tongpan's son had been to the Bai family.

He told the magistrate: "Before the bandits are suppressed, you must stay at home and do not move around at will. I also know that you are innocent and will intercede for you. If you move around randomly, if the suppression of the bandits fails, there will be more There are rumors that you secretly passed the news to the bandits. By then, even I won’t be able to protect you."

Zhu Zhu wanted to defend himself, but he opened his mouth and swallowed back his words. It took him a long time to hold back one word: "Yes!"

The general judge of Yangzhou was an extremely important person to Master Zhu.

Zhu Zongdao staggered out of the county government office. Today's sunshine was particularly dazzling, but he felt a chill in his vest.

how so?

Why did the husband of Li Tongpan's family go to the Bai family as a guest?