Lord Tang ......", Lao Zhang, the porter of the Longmen County Ya, rubbed himself vigorously and suddenly pulled his neck and sang to the yamen: "The county lord has returned to the yamen!" ”。

It wasn't until this voice was shouted that the porter Lao Zhang suddenly reacted, "No, isn't the county magistrate suffering from a serious illness in the internal government these days?" ”。

Seeing Lao Zhang, the porter who came out, looked at him blankly, Tang Cheng, who had just stepped out of the carriage, smiled kindly at him, with the experience of entering the city gate just now, Lao Zhang's ghostly expression was no longer strange.

Speaking of which, who made Jia Xu and the others come up with such a lame reason to cover up his unauthorized departure? Anyone who sees a man who is rumored to be dying of a violent illness must have such an expression on his face.

After Tang Cheng got out of the car and smiled at Lao Zhang, he turned around and greeted the car: "Yu Lushi, please."

"Don't dare to be like this", as he spoke, Yu Rentai, the new secretary of the >> Prefecture who had just been in office for three days, got out of the carriage and stretched out his hand to say, "Tang Mingfu first, please."

"Why be so polite, it's okay, let's go together", Tang Cheng stretched out his hand to support Yu Rentai's arm, and the two smiled and walked side by side towards the yamen.

At this time, Yang Jiao, Jia Xu and Qian Sanscar were in a hurry to spread the news that Tang Cheng was "suddenly infected with a violent disease", and even the county lady who was talked about by the people of the county town temporarily put down the errand of giving grain relief, and never came out to show her face after returning to the county office.

Although most of the people who came down from the state government didn't believe it when they heard the news, they didn't think about it elsewhere, people want faces, trees want bark, and it is normal for the respect of a county to be reluctant to come out and meet them in the face of such an investigation, the more he doesn't come out, the better, so the resistance to the investigation is much smaller, hide, it depends on how long you can hide in the small courtyard of the inner office!

It's normal for people from the state government to think like this, but the people of Longmen County don't think so, although the county lord has been in office for a short time, but he has done everything one by one is solid, and no matter what happens, he will never shirk and avoid it, let alone sacrifice his subordinates as scapegoats, how can a person like him hide like a shrinking turtle when facing such a difficult situation at present?

It's hard to see that the county magistrate is really sick? One day. Two days. Five days. Ten days. As time passed, the county lord never showed up. What was originally just a sporadic idea gradually became a prairie fire.

It seems that the county lord is really seriously ill. This news was "confirmed" in the passage of time. Previously, the Longmen County Ya cultivated the enthusiasm and momentum of the people, and was suddenly shrouded in a thick pessimism. At this time, Tang Cheng was not just a symbol of the county. It is also the backbone of the landlords in the yamen and the scribes. The bones of the Lord's heart were drawn. How miserable must those who cling to him be?

Bad news always spreads quickly. The same is true for the construction of terraced fields outside the city. The construction of terraced fields has not completely stopped. But progress has slowed down a lot. The peasants, who had been so energetic before, looked in vain and hesitantly. I hope I can see the familiar figure in the blue official uniform at the mountain pass below. Based on previous experience. Even if the county lord is busy. I always come here every two days.

Day after day. Over and over. From disappointment to hesitation to despair. If it weren't for Yang Jiao, the three of them gritted their teeth and desperately supported it. Maybe these cold-hearted farmers have long since dispersed. Rao is so. Longmen Xi transports stone ox carts less and less. Getting slower and slower.

After waiting for decades, it is easy to look forward to a good county order with responsibility. As soon as the matter of changing the mountains and making fields was done, the county lord became violently ill. What else can be said? God bless the Dragon Gate!

Black clouds crush the city. Just when Tang Cheng had worked hard to build the new county government and terraced fields, the great cause was about to collapse. The porter's voice was like a bolt of lightning that struck into the dreary county office.

Whether it is a tolerance, a clerk or a miscellaneous servant, all the people in the county government who heard Lao Zhang's salute almost unanimously threw away the things at hand and ran to the door of the yamen, and the county lord returned to the ya? Every time this thought turns in my mind, my heart has become a little stronger these days.

As soon as Tang Cheng and Yu Rentai walked into the main gate of the county government, they saw more than a dozen pairs of stunned eyes, and in addition, there were people running towards this side from the entrance of the east and west courtyards in the distance.

Tang County Order, it is Tang County Order, and what is standing in front of you is clearly the Tang County Order! After finally confirming this, these people who rushed to the city did not speak, and their eyes first became astringently hot.

Tang Cheng stood still at the entrance of the yamen, and after his warm eyes slowly swept the excited faces of these subordinates, he said in a deep voice with a condensed expression: "Shangya time, who let you gather for no reason, why, the errand in your hand is very idle?" Judge Sun, even yourself, record the names of these people to this official."

Seeing that after saying so much, these people were still a little stunned to look at him, Tang Cheng, who was hot in his heart, raised his volume by two points, "Why are you standing stupidly, why don't you all go on errands."

His voice, expression, and intonation when he spoke were no different from before he arrived in Jinyang.

Behind Tang Cheng, the porter Lao Zhang listened to the familiar voice and familiar words, and the astringent feeling in his old eyes finally turned into two muddy old tears dropping down, and he muttered words that only he could understand: "Okay, okay, it's finally good......."

The people who came up just now after hearing the news scattered back to the east and west across the courtyard, but this time Tang Cheng's words were not afraid, and while turning around and walking back, these people almost unanimously let out a long breath, okay, okay! What followed was that the previously miserable and empty heart finally fell into place again.

Many people who had just heard the news and ran out of the east-west courtyard stopped when they saw them like this, and after leaning up and asking a few words, these people tiptoed to the door from a distance Tang Cheng looked at the side and then followed back, and then heard a messy sound from the courtyard on both sides.

It's messy, but it's full of life.

Seeing this scene, Tang Cheng had a smile on his face, and Yu Rentai, who was standing beside him, sighed and said: "There are really not many officials who can be loyal and supported by their subordinates like Tang County Order, admire, admire."

"Praise falsely", Tang Cheng stretched out his hand and pointed to the two cross-courtyards, "These people in the state government are tired of recording things."

Although the investigation of the Longmen County Yada ordered by Niu Zude himself has basically ended, there are still some people here who are doing the finishing work, and Yu Rentai is here to solve their problems, "Tang Ming Mansion rest assured, the matter at hand will stop immediately, and everyone in the state government will be in the early morning tomorrow."

from Longmen County".

"Okay", Tang Cheng nodded with a smile when he heard this, "Please."

…………………………………………

The people in the state government came down fast that day, and now they are collecting faster, almost less than two pillars of incense, and the state officials who have been indispensable in Longmen County have been full of embarrassment and withdrew from the county government with Yu Rentai with their faces.

When leading these black-eyed people away, Yu Rentai insisted on refusing Tang Cheng's arrangement for a banquet in the evening, "Thank you Tang Mingfu for your kindness, it's just that today is really not the time", Yu Rentai said, the corners of his mouth gestured to the officials behind him a few times, "Stay for the next day, another day Mingfu just can't break the bank."

After sending Yu Rentai away, Tang Cheng went straight to the inner courtyard of the back office, and he didn't know who among those officials just now had a long tongue and reported the news inside, which made his attempt to surprise Zheng Lingyi completely failed.

Hiding tightly in Tang Cheng's arms, Zheng Lingyi's arms were like two ropes and wrapped all his strength around the man's waist, seeing that she was so tightly encircled, it seemed that Tang Chengcheng had disappeared after a little loosening.

Tang Cheng's hand was gently caressing Zheng Lingyi's back, and he could feel the slight tremor of his body in his arms, especially in his neck, Zheng Lingyi's head was clinging to it, and it was already wet, if it weren't for the fact that he was experiencing it at the moment, it was hard for Tang Cheng to imagine that a person could shed so many tears in such a short period of time.

The two of them hugged each other silently in the quiet room, and when they felt that Zheng Lingyi's body had stopped trembling in his arms, Tang Cheng suddenly bent down and hugged her, and said softly in a low exclamation: "In the Book of Poetry, it is said that 'picking and being in the city. I don't see you for a day, such as March, and the lady should let her husband take a look."

With a soft smile in his mouth, Tang Cheng had already arrived at the dresser with Zheng Lingyi in his arms.

Zheng Lingyi was not allowed to get off the ground at all, and when he sat down, Tang Chengcheng held her in his arms and knees, and was about to turn around to get a comb to sort out the beauty's scattered sideburns, but the first thing that caught his eye on the dresser was a picture scroll that was tiled.

This is a delicate brushwork, the background of the painting is the spring scenery of Yangzhou in March, the near view is Tang Cheng is familiar with the city of the embassy, the eaves of the gorgeous mansion have become a faint line of decoration, the whole painting is rich and colorful expression is only flowers, clusters of spring flowers, has been erected in the sea of flowers of the swing.

On the swing that swings high, the bright woman's clothes dance in the air with the spring breeze, looking like a flying goddess dancing in the blue sky; Under the swing frame, the handsome young man's eyes looked at the woman who was flying into the sky with affection, and his star-like eyes revealed a deep affection like the sea.

After reading the scroll, Tang Cheng's gaze naturally shifted to the four inscription poems in the upper right corner:

The king should be a rock, and the concubine should be a reed.

Pu reed, the rock has no transfer.

Silently reciting these four poems, Tang Chengcheng felt a surge in his heart, in the famous article "Peacock Flying Southeast" in the Six Dynasties Yuefu, these four poems are not only the confession that Liu Lanzhi and Jiao Zhongqing will never be separated, but also the oath of the two to prove their love with death. To make such a beautiful painting, but to use such an inscription poem, how much does Zheng Lingyi's mind need to say?

"Ling Yi, let's set up a swing in this yard too."

"Hmm...... Husband, you ......", without waiting for Zheng Lingyi to say anything, Tang Cheng had already turned to the dresser with her body in his arms.

As soon as he turned around and saw this painting, Zheng Lingyi was about to reach out and take it, "Husband, this painting ......."

"This painting is very good, it is worth carefully cherishing for a lifetime, but the inscription poem has some flaws", Tang Cheng blocked Zheng Lingyi's hand, so he took an eyebrow pencil from the dresser and wrote on the scroll.

Snuggled in Tang Cheng's arms, Zheng Lingyi gently recited the sentence written by her husband:

In the heavens wish for the winged birds, in the earth wishes for the branches, the sky is long and sometimes the end, this love is endless!

By the time the last sentence was read, Zheng Lingyi's voice was already inaudible, but the tears that had just flowed in his eyes slipped down silently like a string of beads with broken threads.

After that, there was a long period of hugging, until Zheng Lingyi suddenly remembered something, "Husband, have you been to Donggu since you came back?" ”。

"I'll come back directly after taking care of the things in front of the county government, and I haven't found time to go yet", Tang Cheng smiled and smoothed Zheng Lingyi's messed sideburns when he was grinding his sideburns just now, "What's wrong?" ”。

"Oh, I should have reminded you earlier", Zheng Lingyi sighed in annoyance, and the person also stood up from Tang Cheng's lap, "The situation in Donggu is very unstable, husband, you have to hurry up and appease."

"Is that so?" , Tang Cheng also stood up, "Aren't there Jia Xu in them?"

"Longmen County can't compare to other places, after decades of accumulation, the people can't trust the county government", Zheng Lingyi took a few steps over and took Tang Cheng's official clothes, "Change your clothes quickly...... This time they are willing to come, one is for food and land, and the other is also for you, now as soon as the news of your serious illness spreads, the hearts of the people over there have long been scattered, if it weren't for Mr. Yang and them to maintain, I'm afraid that everyone is gone."

Hearing this, Tang Cheng didn't say anything, changed his clothes, took the wind and put it on his body with a shake of his backhand, "You go with me."

"I'm going too?".

Before Zheng Lingyi could be too late, Tang Cheng had already pulled her and strode out.

Because Tang Cheng was anxious, the two didn't even sit in the carriage, and rode straight to Donggu, and there were people who had seen him on the streets along the way, and they were stunned after meeting him at first sight, and then shouted violently, "Lord County, Lord County, Lord County, Lord ......."

However, before they could finish shouting a word, Tang Cheng, who was riding a horse, had already run away.

Rushing out of the city gate all the way, halfway through the road to Donggu, he happened to meet Yang Jiao, who was also riding a horse on the opposite side, and there was a scribe with him, who vaguely saw the land at the yamen just now, and it must have been the letter he came to report.

"Oh, Mingfu, you are back", seeing Tang Cheng, Yang Jiao breathed a sigh of relief, "As soon as I heard the news of the accident of the state Yaniu Zude, I thought that you should come back, why did it delay until now?" ”。

Min He had said that he would just go back with the money, but Tang Cheng didn't say this to Yang Jiao, "There is a little delay over there, Mr. doesn't need to get off the horse, let's go around", after speaking, he rushed forward with his legs clamped the horse's belly, and Yang Jiao turned the horse's head on the spot to follow.

Jia Xu really can't wait to have a hundred mouths all over his body now, only in this way can he barely cope with so many gossipy villagers around, there are too many people talking, but what they say is actually one sentence - to see Tang Xianzun.

Rao is Jia Xu kept saying that he had sent someone to invite the county lord to come over, but the villagers who had been disappointed these days refused to believe it.

Can be used to rule people

The county lord, can spread out such a big stall is still the county lord, now only recognize the county lord, if it is not him who sits in the hall in the Longmen County Yali, who knows who will be the terraced fields that have been cultivated so hard now in the future? If that's the case, what's the point?

When Jia Xu was anxious, Qian Sansa shouted in a voice not far away, "Jia Tou'er, Mr. Yang should go to the county government now", the situation on his side is not better than Jia Xu at all, he was also surrounded by many villagers and questioned, and his throat was also dumb, and his forehead was covered with beads of sweat.

"It's almost time", after Jia Xu leaned his neck and shouted, he couldn't wait for Qian Sanscar to answer, so he hurriedly turned his head and shouted at a person in the crowd: "Brother Li, we have known each other in Liuguan Village, when has the county government fooled everyone since the day of the fight?" Brother, you are also helping to persuade you, seeing that the county magistrate is coming soon, what is the matter with the villagers now that they are gone? ”。

Li Nong in the crowd was silent for a while before he spoke: "There are thousands of people in the family, and there is one person in charge, not that the villagers can't trust the two adults, the county government is really going to change the seat, and the two adults can't be the master, seeing that there is still half a month before the end of the year, what are the big guys working hard to do here?" Since I can't see Lord Tang and hear a word of accuracy, the villagers have to go back if they say anything, otherwise, Lord Jia will raise his noble hand and wait for us to come back after the New Year? ”。

Jia Xu really didn't know what to say, he only hoped that Yang Jiao's legs and feet would be sharper, and the county lord would hurry up.

Just when the situation was about to be overwhelmed and the farmers were about to disperse, they suddenly heard the sound of horses' hooves coming from the mountain pass.

As soon as he heard the sound of horses' hooves, Jia Xu's heart jumped violently, and he didn't care about saying anything more at the moment, so he turned his head and stared at the mountain pass.

Soon, the peasants around him stopped making noise and moving about, and the whole valley calmed down as quickly as a rippling lake, and all those who stood in whatever place and in what posture they were standing turned their heads to look at the mountain pass when they heard the news of the sound of horses' hooves in front of them.

Everyone's mood is the same as Jia Xu and Qian Sanscar, they just hope that this is the county lord, give them good hope, lead them to realize the good hope, and the only thing that can make them truly trust the county lord.

Finally, the owner of the horse's hoofs rushed out of the mountain pass, and when he saw the familiar official robes, and saw the familiar figure standing straight on the horse, Li Nong breathed a long sigh of relief like the others.

Immediately there were sporadic cheers in the valley, and soon the cheers were all together, and the restless hearts of the farmers all these days finally came back to fruition.

The prefectural lord can ride a fast horse! The prefectural lord is good! The Longmen County Ya is still sitting in the hall!

In the midst of everyone's cheers, Tang Cheng rode his horse and rushed directly in front of Jia Xu.

"My lord, you can be regarded as back", Jia Xu not only said the same thing as Yang Jiao just now, but even the expression of relief was no different.

It's really a relief, God knows how they managed to survive this big scene in the days when Tang Cheng was gone.

When he was on the road just now, Tang Cheng had already listened to Yang Jiao's brief introduction to the situation, so he didn't say much to Jia Xu at this time, and after sweeping his eyes over the crowd, he saw Li Nong, "This county has been sick for a few days, and then ran to the state government to ask for food, I haven't seen Brother Li for a few days, you are leaving?" Why, this official and the Longmen County Ya are so untrustworthy? Or do people simply not want the terraces? ”。

Hearing this, Li Nong in the crowd turned red with an old face, thinking about how the county lord had treated him before, this simple old farmer really wanted to have a crack under his feet to allow him to get in, "Tang ...... Lord Tang...... I'm confused...... I'm ......", I was for a while, and Li Nong, who was blushing, couldn't say any more, and the farmers around him who were seen by Tang Cheng also lowered their heads.

Tang Cheng didn't wait for him to say anything more, he turned sideways on the horse and said in a loud voice, "Ling ...... Madame, from this day onwards, everyone's rations will be reduced by thirty percent, and when they make up for the work that has been delayed these days, you will change it back."

Hearing this, Zheng Lingyi replied crisply: "Yes."

"Hmm", after nodding, Tang Cheng looked farther away, and naturally noticed the sparse Xiren ox cart, compared to before he left a few days ago, the number of Xi Ren ox carts now is only afraid that it is not even one-fifth of that at that time.

"Old slippery head", after scolding hatefully, Tang Cheng raised the horsewhip in his hand and gestured twice, and not far from Li Nong and the others, the Xi man who was stopping to look at him put down the ox nose rope and walked over.

Tang Cheng didn't get off the horse, and after this Xi person approached, he said with a cold face: "Bring a message back to your patriarch, the envoy of >> Prefecture has changed people, but this Longmen County Yake is still surnamed Tang, if the ox cart pulling stones within four days cannot recover the number of days before, it is no wonder that the patriarch of Tuye is untrustworthy."

Seeing Xi Ren retreating, Tang Cheng turned around and said in a deep voice: "What, you haven't rested enough these days?" ”。

"Come with me and work uphill!" After Li Nong shouted in the crowd, he turned around and walked up the hillside without waiting for others.

With him taking the lead, the farmers who were stunned for a moment turned around and ran up the hillside, and this small circle of things spread quickly, and soon, the farmers who had been scattered in the valley and had no intention of working were like someone whipping them behind, and the crowd ran back to the slopes on all sides.

Seeing this scene, Jia Xu, who had just gasped for breath, turned around and exchanged a look with Yang Jiao, and when his eyes touched, both of them smiled bitterly and shook their heads, the previous president's good words couldn't appease the hearts of the villagers, the county lord is good, not only did he not have a good word of comfort, but he also stabbed and punished together, but these farmers who were noisy just now really rushed up the slope, hey, this person is really incomparable with people! If you can get to this point as a parent official, there is really nothing to say.

After Li Nong and the others turned to leave, Tang Cheng also urged the horse's hooves to patrol forward, today is not as good as those who came before, he must let the farmers on all sides of the hillside see him clearly, this is the best way to appease people's hearts.

Seeing this, Yang Jiao also urged the horse to follow, and said while riding along: "Mingfu, Ashide came a few days ago, but he only stayed at the Longmen Inn for two days and left, and he refused to stay longer no matter what we said."

"Gone?" , Hearing this news, Tang Cheng smiled disappreliantly, "Let's go, Mr. don't mind." Hmph, at this time and that time, there is a time when he takes the initiative to come back and ask for us! ”。