For the first time since the beginning of winter, Chang'an has been blowing like catkins, the snow falls on the treetops covered in silver, the whole street is hazy, the morning light just shines out, the snow covered by the pavilion is flashing silver. At this time, in the house where Lu Zheng lived, the snow stretched to the door, and there was a thick layer of snow in the entire courtyard.

At this time, Xue Ne was still reading in the house, looking at the snow outside the window as if he was happy and sad, how many people could live and work in peace and contentment this year, and how many people were displaced. After he put down the scroll, he called out to Lu Zheng, but he didn't respond, so Xue Ne walked towards the door.

At this time, Lu Zheng was sweeping the snow, and he could still feel a little warmth in the morning light, and then said while sweeping: "The harvest year is all thanks to the snow today, and the snow is white in the world." It is expected that this will be the case every year, and it is still possible to promote the world. ”

Xue Ne happened to hear these words, so he said, "How can a long history personally start to do some subordinate work?" ”

When Lu Zheng saw Xue Ne say this, he looked back and saw that Xue Ne was smiling under the eaves, and Lu Zheng said: "How can this sweeping snow in front of his house be said to be the work of a subordinate?" In the end, I am for my own convenience, so Xue Jungong should not make fun of me. ”

Xue Ne then laughed, took a chair to the open space that had been swept the snow, looked at Lu Zheng sweeping the snow, and suddenly he said: "Now that the snow is covering, it is not easy for the ministers of the court to go to the court, from the mansion to the palace, whether it is a carriage or a sedan chair, the ground is very slippery, I think it is bound to miss the deadline." ”

Lu Zheng said while sweeping the snow: "Don't worry about the county prince, the court must have arrangements for this matter of the court, but I don't care about these, what I am most concerned about is the Anbei Metropolitan Protectorate under the jurisdiction of Wang Daduhu, now it is the deep winter, this is stuffed with food shortages, and Tuntian has been stopped for a long time, according to my understanding of Wang Daduhu, at this time, he should be in which farmer's house to ask for warmth." ”

"Really? However, according to Wang Hui's exploits in the plug, I am afraid that there is no need to worry about the plug now, and the people are naturally rich. ”

At this time, Lu Zheng swept away all the snow in the open space in the courtyard, put the broom aside, and opened the locked door to find that the outside was now a white world. The usual pedestrian trail disappeared, and at this time, Lu Zheng walked on the creaking snow, and Xue Ne also came out behind him, saying, "Lu Zheng, how thick does this snow be?" ”

Lu Zheng walked around on the snow, and when he heard Xue Ne say this, he also said: "I can't say for sure, anyway, this is enough to make me happy." ”

Seeing that Lu Zheng was already drunk in the snow, Xue Ne was about to turn back to the mansion again, at this time he faintly heard the sound of carriages and horses in his ears, he looked into the distance, a carriage was running wildly in the snow, and a lot of snow slag was splashed on the side of the wheel, Xue Ne said to Lu Zheng: "Lu Zheng, where do you look?" ”

Lu Zheng saw the carriage staggering towards him, and the carriage stopped before he arrived, and an official in a scarlet official uniform came down from it, Lu Zheng felt that he was equivalent to his official position after seeing it, but he didn't wear an official hat, and he was a little embarrassed.

This person ran towards Lu Zheng, Lu Zheng was stunned in the snow at this time, and when he saw this person getting closer and closer to him, he shouted: "Who are you?" ”

Then the man replied: "Shaoyin in Xia Henan Mansion." ”

At this time, Lu Zheng was still a little surprised, how did this person know that he still called him a subordinate. When Lu Zheng hesitated, this person was already in front of him, and arched his hand: "I've seen Lu Changshi." ”

Lu Zheng asked, "How did you know about me?" ”

"In the past, Lu Changshi Long showed his reputation in the first battle, and then Lu Changshi was ordered by His Majesty to enter the palace without hindrance, what a great honor this is, how can I, as a magistrate, not know the name of Lu Changshi?"

Lu Zheng felt a little exaggerated when he listened to these words that pursued him, but he still said: "Then you are a Henan Shaoyin, and your official position is only one level lower than mine, how can you be so embarrassed, this snow resistance is so big, and you are prone to accidents if you drive so fast." ”

"Thank you Changshi for your suggestion, but this important matter cannot be separated, if it is not quickly presented to the imperial court, I am afraid that there will be a crime of dereliction of duty."

Lu Zheng asked in surprise: "What's so flustered that even the official hat has fallen off?" ”

"This year's catastrophe in Henan has caused many thieves to rise up, and I have gained little from several encirclements and suppressions, and now I can only come to the court to ask for guilt and report the matter, and then see what the court means."

Lu Zheng was suspicious: "Then why can't you send someone here, and you want to come here in person?" ”

"Don't hide it from Lu Changshi, I thought about it for a long time, and decided to resign and come to Beijing to visit some old friends, so I came by myself. This official road is not easy to walk now, and when I came, it was snowing heavily, and the wheels were changed several times. ”

Lu Zheng said again: "Since Shao Yin came here from afar, it is better to sit in my mansion for a while." ”

At this time, Xue Ne also came over, and this person also saluted Xue Ne and said, "It turns out that General Xue is also here, and I am fortunate to meet him." ”

So this man was invited into the house, and this man sat on a chair and warmed his hands by the fire, and Xue Ne asked, "What about the other officials in Henan?" It can't all be your fault, I think all the officials should be held accountable. ”

"Xue Jungong doesn't dare to say that, as a young Yin, I didn't take action first, so I let the matter continue to expand, and the whole territory was greatly affected, and the thieves who started the incident became more and more rampant, and they did all kinds of evil things in raiding homes and robbing houses, and it was my responsibility to say that it was the greatest."

Lu Zheng sighed: "Then have you thought about the follow-up, if Your Majesty blames it, it is difficult to say whether this is a blessing or a curse." ”

This person said: "Alas, I don't want to live for a while, such a big thing can't hide the truth in the end, rather than being found out, it's better to confess it yourself." ”

This person lowered his head, watching the fire burning brightly, a little deflated, but immediately Lu Zheng said: "Seeing that you are also a loyal and good, Xue Jungong and I can say a few good words for you in front of the saint." ”

"No, no, the two of you can't do it, I am responsible, these hundreds of people have suffered because of me, if I don't punish them, then the future officials will take the people's livelihood in their eyes."

This person said that he was loyal and courageous, which made Lu Zheng inevitably soothe a few more words, and Xue Ne also recognized his behavior, and was deeply pleased that Datang had such a direct minister.

And the official said: "I want to ask the two, where is this Yao Xiangfu?" I want to visit Yao Xianggui's mansion, Yao Xianggui is the head of the hundred officials, I want to hear his views on the disaster in Henan. ”

Lu Zheng said with a smile: "Shaoyin is not busy, I will take you there when I have time, I am familiar with this road." ”

This person hurriedly got up and said, "Then I won't bother, I will enter the palace now." ”

Xue Ne and Lu Zheng also stood up and watched this person go out, it was still snowing lightly, this person walked out of the mansion in a trembling manner, and suddenly Lu Zheng shouted: "Wait a minute." ”

Then Lu Zheng took out a coat from the house and draped it on the official, the official hurriedly thanked him, and Lu Zheng said: "It's freezing this day, it's frozen, and it's hard to say in front of Your Majesty." ”

Then the person disappeared into the street, Lu Zheng and Xue Ne talked about some related matters in Henan that this person talked about, and this person came all the way to mean that the disaster was serious, which is also the responsibility of many officials. There is only such a person who still has a conscience who can defy the risk of dismissal and investigation and confess his guilt in front of His Majesty.

After this person left, Lu Zheng said again: "This person entered the palace like this, I think maybe something will go wrong, why don't we help this person, it can be regarded as for the sake of him being so upright." ”

Xue Ne also said: "Okay, just listen to you, this person should be supported, then go to the palace at this time." ”

Then the two walked out of the mansion, and there were still invisible people on the road at this time, Lu Zheng said as he walked: "This matter in Henan has been a long time now, maybe Your Majesty will not be too careful, so that this person can atone for his sins." But this is all my conjecture, and His Majesty's temper is also elusive. ”

Xue Ne said: "Your Majesty's temper, I guess I will let this person atone for his sins, after all, the last time he privately occupied the land, many officials have been disposed of, this time he will not be furious because of this, this person will meet the court at such a time, that is, a little reproach, there will not be too much punishment." ”

Lu Zheng wanted to catch up with this person at this time, so he said to Xue Ne: "I estimate that this person has just walked not far, I think it is better to chase after this person, so that he will not enter the palace to talk nonsense and say the wrong thing." ”

After Xue Ne nodded, at this time, Lu Zheng and Xue Ne ran up on the snow, and after running for a while, they saw this person's carriage, and Lu Zheng shouted: "Shao Yin and slow." ”

This person poked his head out of the carriage, and when he saw that Lu Zheng and Xue Ne were out of breath, he asked the coachman to stop, and he hurriedly walked over again, and arched his hand: "Is there anything else to do with the two of you?" ”

Lu Zheng said: "Actually, I just want to tell you that you are not familiar with this palace, and we will take you in, so it is better." ”

This person hurriedly said: "That's fine, the two of you bothered, then get in the car." ”

The three of them sat in the car, and Lu Zheng said: "When you get to the palace later, don't talk too much about your guilt to Your Majesty, you just need to explain things clearly, I know this Your Majesty better than you, Your Majesty doesn't want to listen to more annoying things, and it will be unfortunate if you talk about it." ”

Seeing Lu Zheng say this to this person, Xue Ne couldn't help but say: "I, Lu Chang, are right, and if I want me to say that this court etiquette is also to be talked about, this is also related to your image, Your Majesty is the most taboo about this person who loses his honor in the palace, you are asking for guilt, don't forget this point." Also, if you say that you are doing disaster relief in Henan and suppressing bandits, although it is said that it is your failure, as long as you say that you did your best and confess your guilt to Your Majesty, Your Majesty will still give you a chance to make meritorious service again. ”