The sun has risen to the sky, clear and cloudless, in Chengdu shrouded in perennial haze, the winter is really rare, everyone's heart is full of tranquility and joy, today is the day of the completion of the new Buddha statue of Chengdu Daci Temple, the treasure is solemn, and there are high monks and masters for the new Buddha to open the light, pilgrims from all over the world rushed to come, so that this year's New Year in Chengdu has a little more peaceful and benevolent heart.

The New Year's flowers are full of flowers, but there are hidden roots and small thorns, the streets and alleys can be seen everywhere groups of men with knives, their clothes are mixed, their demeanor is different, each hand is a portrait, the eyes fall on the body of every passerby, but the portrait of Li Qing, leopard eyes, eagle nose, black face beard, live off a green forest hero's dignity.

Chengdu South Gate is full of people, a group of pilgrims from Jiazhou are preparing to enter the city in ten carts, perhaps worried about missing the time of the light, the pilgrims are noisy and shouting, a few soldiers guarding the city are dizzy, quietly accept a few copper coins, a spear is collected, ten carts and fish penetrate into the city, go straight to Daci Temple.

In a car, several old pilgrims were looking at the three young pilgrims with complicated eyes, when one was tall, bright-eyed, talking and laughing all the way, not in the slightest by the chanting around him, while the other two were delicate-faced, with affectionate eyebrows, obviously a woman dressed as a man, and one was obsessed with him, like a bird.

The three of them laughed and laughed all the way, how could they have the slightest devotion to the Buddha, especially what made people angry, they were so insincere, but the sachets they wore were old goods, and the eyes of a group of old pilgrims were full of disdain and jealousy. Along the way, I have appealed to the Buddha thousands of times.

These three people are naturally Li Qing, Lian'er and Xiaoyu, they mixed in a group of pilgrims who went to Chengdu, and spent thirty taels of silver to buy the piety of three pilgrims for half their lives, and arrived in Chengdu smoothly.

When I heard that the three of them were going to get off the bus, a group of old pilgrims immediately became extremely enthusiastic and shouted at the driver to stop. Sending them away with a smile, secretly sighing that it must be the Buddha who heard their appeal, this heart of respect for the Buddha is more pious, but when he turned around, he found the old sachet left by the three people, and the compassionate carriage suddenly gave birth to a bit of murder.

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Xian Yu Zhongtong was not there, and went to the local area to inspect the unhealthy trends of the New Year. Li Qing left the curtain and Xiaoyu in Xianyu Zhongtong Mansion, and had his concubine to take care of, Xianyu Zhongtong's concubine called Wufang, who looked like the white dumplings of Wufangzhai in later generations, plump and white, although she was high, but she was the same age as the curtain, so the arrival of the curtain and Xiaoyu really made her happy, and only a moment of effort, the three daughters became one.

According to the Tang system. Officials in various localities are generally rotated every two years, and they are not allowed to serve as officials in their own townships. Therefore, the wives of many officials stay in their hometowns to raise their children and take care of their in-laws. Concubinage has become a practical method, which may be an objective reason why the trend of concubinage in the Tang Dynasty officialdom prevailed.

Li Qing saw that the three of them got along well, so he put his mind at ease and hurried to the Jiedu Embassy in a carriage that was fresh in Zhongtong, but the Jiedu Embassy was very deserted, with only two red lanterns hanging outside the gate, and a thin layer of red firecracker paper flowers on the ground, barely showing a little New Year's will. This year, the old lady, Mrs. and Miss have all returned to the capital for the New Year, and only Zhang Qiu and Qiong live in the Nuo Mansion. This is also reasonable.

Hearing that Li Qing was visiting, Zhang Qiu and Qiong came out to greet him in person with a smile, this is the first protégé to come to pay New Year's greetings, and it is still precious in this cold year.

Li Qing saw Zhang Qiu and Qiong who stretched out his hand to him from afar, and a trace of family affection arose spontaneously from his heart, he hurriedly took two steps forward, knelt down and gave a big salute, "Student Li Qing has seen his teacher, I wish him a safe and healthy New Year!" ”

"Hurry up! Get up! Didn't I say don't kneel? Zhang Qiu and Qiongkou blamed, but his heart was warm, his slender eyes smiled and narrowed into a slit, he helped Li Qing up, "If you want to come to Chengdu but don't write a letter first, hurry!" Sit in the room. ”

Zhang Qiu and Qiong took him into the study, and a maid came in to serve tea, Li Qing said apologetically: "The New Year is approaching, I didn't want to disturb the teacher, but the matter is urgent, so I have to come." ”

Seeing that Li Qing said solemnly, Zhang Qiu and Qiong were slightly surprised, got up and closed the door, and said with a smile: "What's the matter?" ”

Li Qing took out the iron box from his arms, handed it to Zhang Qiu and Qiong, and said: "This is evidence that the Hai family smuggled pig iron to Tubo, which was seized by me a few days ago, please take a look at it."

"Fornicating with the enemy's country, this is a crime of destroying the door!" He opened the iron box and flipped through the various evidence inside with interest, his eyes showed a look of satisfaction, and he smiled and said to Li Qing: "You really didn't disappoint me. ”

Zhang Qiu and Qiong shook out Li Daofu's letter casually, began to read it carefully, and couldn't help sneering at the corners of his mouth, "Heaven is evil, especially it; Self-inflicted iniquity, and shall not live'

The Hai family smuggled, Zhang Qiu and Qiong had heard about it for a long time, and he knew who was supporting him, but he didn't want to be an enemy of the king, nor did he want to go against Li Linfu, so over the years, he had been turning a blind eye.

But Li Qing sent this evidence at this time, the significance is extraordinary, in May this year, Chang'an ordered Liu Sheng to be executed for stolen goods, but Li Linfu seized the case, and traced that Liu Sheng was recommended by Tai's henchman Jingzhao Yin Han Chaozong, and demoted Han Chaozong to Wuxing County, and pleaded with Li Longji, but was rejected by Li Longji, Li Linfu took the opportunity to point a sword at another henchman in Taidi, Li Shizhi, the left minister, he instructed the imperial history to report that Han Chaozong and Li Shizhi often discussed the government in the restaurant, and lost the prime minister's system, and took out the testimony of the hotel shopkeeper, In addition, Li Shizhi's repeated gaffes made Li Longji have the idea of dismissing Li Shizhi again.

Zhang Qiu and Qiong walked around the house with their hands behind their backs, this case came very timely, Tai was forced by Li Linfu at this time, this Haijia smuggling case undoubtedly gave Tai a chance to turn around, if he can seize this opportunity to get Tai out of trouble, this is undoubtedly extremely beneficial to his career.

Thinking of this, Zhang Qiu and Qiong slowly stopped, pondered for a moment and asked Li Qingdao: "Where is that batch of goods now?" ”

"I'm still in Yibin County, I hope the teacher will send someone to deal with it as soon as possible."

"It's too slow to send people, I directly ordered the army of Nanxi County to take over, but it was the Hai family, if I didn't start earlier, I was afraid that the night would be long and dreamy."

Zhang Qiu and Qiong glanced at Li Qing and said with a slight smile: "It seems that it is indeed too wronged to let you be a petty official." ”

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The night is quiet, and the noisy day of Chengdu falls into a dark dream, a crescent moon rises, and the silver moonlight is like a dazzling white mourning dress, covering the Haijiadi mansion.

Heilan sat quietly in front of the window, the moonlight snuggled up to him, his face was haggard, his face was as pale as paper, and there was a red vial on the table beside him, and under the moonlight, a long reflection dragged out of the table, exuding a faint smell of death.

This vial was sent by Li Daofu's housekeeper in the afternoon, what is the hot and cold state of the world, what is the warmth and coldness of human feelings, he has already experienced countless times in his life, but there has not been a single one

Such. No! There is no affection between them, only money transactions, only I

"You want me to kill myself!" Is it? You heartless and unrighteous person, why should I tell you the truth? ”

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That night, the Hai family was seized by Zhang Qiu and Qiong on suspicion of communicating with the enemy country, Hailan committed suicide, Haiba was arrested on the way back to Chengdu, except for Hailan Haiheng who escaped, the other good and cheap of the Hai family were all arrested and detained by Zhang Qiu and Qiong.

At the same time, Li Daofu, the assassin of Yizhou, also intervened in the smuggling case of the Hai family, arrested the Yizhou Cangcao who approved the trade of the Hai family, and then poisoned him in prison, and declared Emeitang an illegal organization, and wanted 23 people below its master, and the first gang of the Jiannan underworld, Emeitang, was disbanded.

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The New Year of Tianbao came as scheduled, and the streets of Chengdu were full of people who went out to pay New Year's greetings, and in the major temples in Chengdu, the crowds who came to burn the New Year's incense broke the threshold.

The streets and alleys can be heard everywhere the sound of festive firecrackers, this is a colorful era, 'white robe, black boots, yellow cloak, red clothes, green skirt and purple cloak', but the most touching is the children's red smiling faces and joyful eyes, kowtow to the father and mother in the morning, received thirty or fifty New Year's money, or brothers and sisters together, or three or five in groups, in the stall, in front of the shop, choose their own toys, before leaving and then buy a few maltose for the greedy grandmother, it is considered the filial piety of the younger generation.

New Year's morning. Li Qing got up, his heart was relaxed and happy, the Hai family was like a piece of iron in his heart, which had been pressing heavily on his heart all these years, but now this piece of iron had finally been removed.

Li Qing came to the courtyard, the courtyard was very quiet, he took a long breath, the air was cold and fresh. There was a faint floating smoke of cannon embroidery, which was a taste he liked very much.

"Are you going to leave now?"

The curtain rubbed her slightly red and swollen eyes, and walked out of the house, last night's New Year's Watch, she played with Xiaoyu and Xian Yu Zhongtong's concubine Wufang Pu, who played all night, and was won two yuan by them. At this moment, Xiaoyu is still dreaming and can't wake up.

But today Li Qing is going to pay New Year's greetings to Zhang Qiu and Qiong, so the curtain didn't dare to snooze, so she got up early, she sorted out Li Qing's clothes while chanting: "Today's festival will make the adult's house bound to be full of people, and the adult may not be able to see you, you simply go a little later, wouldn't it be better to avoid **." ”

"I don't want to go either, but this ceremony can't be abolished, I'm just ordering at the door of his house. Leave He Yi and come back, and then talk about it. Aren't you going to Daci Temple in the afternoon to make a wish? Finish these socials early, and I'll be able to accompany you. ”

The curtain was very happy to hear it. "Then you go early and come back early, I'll wait for you to come back for lunch."

Li Qing responded, took He Yi and went to Zhang Qiu and Qiong's mansion, and the subordinates gave New Year's greetings to their bosses, which has been a tradition since ancient times, although the career of the new year will not become smooth because of a year, but if you don't go to the New Year, then this year's career will definitely not be smooth.

There is still a long way to go from the Jiedu Embassy. The roadside was already full of wagons, generals or their representatives from the military palaces. The local officials have already crowded the gate of the Jiedu Embassy's Mansion, year after year, Zhang Qiu and the steward of the Qiong Mansion have long been familiar with it, receiving gifts, leaving names, and handing over numbers according to the list given by adults, everything is in order.

The officials in these New Year's greetings may be the youngest of Li Qing's official hats, so when Li Qing wrote the five words 'Yibin County Master Book' in the registration book, there was a sneer next to him, and some people even said softly: "It seems that the threshold of the adult's mansion is a little broken, and I will find someone to repair it tomorrow." ”

As soon as this remark came out, it immediately caused a burst of laughter, "Yes! Yes, extremely! If Zhao Sima wants to repair the threshold for adults, we should enthusiastically donate money. ”

At this time, a small house walked out of the house, someone recognized him as the secretary of Lord Zhang Qiu, there were countless red envelopes quietly stuffed into his pocket, and the pen was accepted with a smile one by one, although this pen was a subordinate, but everyone understood his role, for example, when the adult was in a good mood, if he could hand over his report in time, this is wonderful, not to mention that everyone knows.

When Si Bi came, it must have been the adults who began to meet him, and all the officials gathered around him, looking at him with blank eyes, and some people kept coughing and clapping their hands, for fear that he would lose his eyes and not see himself.

Si Bi smiled slightly, glanced around, and tiptoed left and right to look, "Has Li Qing, the chief bookkeeper of Yibin County, arrived?" Adults, please! ”

Li Qing was squeezed to the outermost by a group of snobs, and he was about to go back, but he heard the pen calling his name, and hurriedly raised his hand and responded: "I'm here!" ”

Brushing the ground, everyone's eyes went to a flat corner, and shot at Li Qing in one volley, envy, jealousy, disdain, and all kinds of expressions.

"Master Li, my family is invited!"

Li Qing was overjoyed, but before he could take a step, there were already a few hot arms next to him who grabbed his shoulders, "When is Brother Li free, I should come to visit!" ”

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"I am the magistrate of Nanxi County, when did Master Li come to Yibin County as an official, I don't know, offended! Offend! ”

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"Huh! What I said about the threshold just now, Lord Li, don't get me wrong, I originally wanted to fix Lord Li's mansion as well. ”

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Master Li has a large number of people, so naturally he will not take such a trivial matter to heart, he thanked him with a smile one by one, squeezed into the crowd, and the pen looked at him and said with a slight smile: "My family wanted to come to the door in person, but I didn't know where Lord Li lived, so I was sluggish." ”

As soon as this remark came out, everyone was in an uproar, and within half a day, the rumor that the emperor was an official in Jiannan spread all over the streets and alleys of Chengdu.

When Zhang Qiu and Qiong saw Li Qing coming in, he laughed: "How does it feel like to be hot and cold in the officialdom?" ”

Li Qingyi said with a smile: "I wrote down what happened today, and I will slowly reminisce after returning to Yibin County." ”

Zhang Qiu and Qiong said lightly: "You don't have to go back to Yibin County, the new county commander of Yibin County has already gone to his post a few days ago, and your term of office as the acting county commander has also expired, and the position of Bing Cao joining the army in my house is just vacant, so you will be transferred to this position, are you willing?" ”

Li Qing was overjoyed, how could he not be willing, although Cao Shenjun, the soldier of the Jiannan Jiedu Embassy, and the Yibin County Commander belonged to the same rank as the Qipin, but he was the secretary of the Jiedu Envoy to deal with military affairs, and he couldn't take it if he wasn't a confidant, which means that Zhang Qiu and Qiong had finally upgraded him Li Qing from a protégé to a confidant until now.

"Thank you for cultivating your teacher!"

"This is also your own ability, if it weren't for your performance this time, I wouldn't have used you."

After a pause, Zhang Qiu and Qiong's white and chubby smiling face slowly became solemn, he looked at Li Qing for a long time, and suddenly said: "You come here, I want to give you a big thing." ”

Seeing that he said solemnly, Li Qing hurriedly lowered his head and stepped forward.

Zhang Qiu and Qiong lowered his voice and whispered in his ear: "You immediately go to the capital and hand over the materials smuggled by the Hai family to His Royal Highness for me." ”