Yangxin County Yamen.

It was late at night, the snow was falling, and the two officials were lazily huddled in the gatehouse, and they could only see two red lanterns hanging at the gate from a distance, like ghost eyes.

It was cold, the officials in the yamen had already gone home, and the back yamen was also shrouded in darkness, only a faint red light reflected from the snow on the ground, and it was quiet all around.

In the depths of the courtyard, a small window was dimly lit.

This is a flower hall, the layout is very simple and elegant, there is not even a single ornament on the wall, only a few chairs, a few small - in fact, it has to be so, this place has just suffered a military disaster, and the white robe army has robbed the valuable things, and the county lord who just came was surprised to find that everything here is controlled by Lian Zining and the squire class, and it is difficult for him to get some benefits.

The room was as dim as a bean, and on a chair, a man in blue casual clothes was sitting upright, and it could be seen that he was of medium height, about forty years old, with a rather majestic complexion, three long beards under his chin, thick eyebrows, and a dignified appearance. And the majesty between the eyebrows is quite heavy, obviously a person who has been commanding for a long time and has been on people for a long time.

The Ming Dynasty is a seven-rank civil official, the current Yangxin County Commander, the forty-sixth year of Zhengde Wuyin Year Second Class Jinshi, Huang Wenguan Wenxiu Huang, but at this time he was standing in front of this middle-aged man, his waist was slightly bent, and the expression on his face was very respectful.

"So, this time it's a failure?" The middle-aged man asked lightly, his voice was very magnetic, revealing a sense of control and confidence, and the expression on his face was neither sad nor joyful, and he couldn't see any emotion.

"Yes, Teacher!" Huang Wenguan replied: "The manpower we have arranged in the six counties is now in a great predicament, with no food, no clothing, no firewood at home. One of them has frozen to death in Lijin County, and there are two people in Haifeng County who are so cold that they can't help it, they go out of the city to chop firewood, get lost in the mountains, and never come out again. ”

"You, the magistrate, can't do anything?" The middle-aged man asked.

Huang Wenguan smiled bitterly: "The student is the county magistrate, he said it well, and he couldn't even go out of the county government because he had no real power, and even the two masters of Qian Gu and Xingming were not invited, and the affairs of the county, those squires directly reported to the town guard yamen, which is ridiculous, the student has been in office for so long, and he hasn't even taken a single case, it's really ridiculous." Students have no power, no power, no money, no one, what can they do? A few Xiucai in Yangxin County wanted to go to Jinan Mansion to join their relatives, but the big car shop in the county was closed, and they couldn't get out of the city, so they could only starve to death and freeze to death in the city! The student went to the owner of the big car shop in person, hehe, they didn't buy it at all, saying that you were looking for our owner. Our host is now a guest in the town guard house of the six counties of Leling County, if you dare, then go! ”

The middle-aged man was silent for a while, sneered, and said hesitantly: "Amazing, really amazing!" This Lian Zining's methods are old and spicy, vicious, and he shows no mercy in his shots, and he has completely left himself out. The rice shop doesn't sell rice, the big car shop refuses to solicit customers, the restaurant Qinglou doesn't accept it, people just don't want to make your money, what can you do? Even if you freeze to death and starve to death, then you don't do his business, and the blame can only be blamed on the squire. But for a hundred years, the country has always relied on the squires to rule the place, so what can be done with them? It's better not to be out of the way! Lian Zining is just a military attaché, and this matter is not up to him, but you six civil officials are in charge of the county, but you also have to bear a big relationship. Wonderful! Wonderful! It's wonderful! Without moving a finger, we will completely dissolve our self-righteous killing moves, and even eliminate them, but instead make us suffer heavy losses and be embarrassed! ”

He said plainly, but the hatred and anger in his words were about to burst out!

Obviously, I was already angry to the extreme, hated to the extreme, and even more powerless to the extreme, so I could behave like this.

Huang Wenguan was silent, and bent a little lower: "The student is incompetent, please punish the teacher." ”

"Hehe, punish you for what to do!" is worthy of being a person who has been in a high position for a long time, the middle-aged man quickly covered up the hatred in his heart, and his face was full of indifference: "This time I made a mistake in my estimation for the teacher, but I didn't expect that Lian Zining to be so calm, but the means behind it were so ruthless." It seems that I really underestimated this person, I watched him act in the past, strong and domineering, never willing to suffer, plus he was a martial artist, so I had a contempt in my heart, thinking that if these talents provoked him, he would definitely not be able to hold it back, and he would use soldiers to suppress it, and if two or three people died at that time, hehe, then we can make a big fuss. I didn't expect it, I didn't expect it...... Wenxiu, I don't blame you for this, I blame you for being the teacher. ”

He admits his mistakes calmly, and instead of making people feel that he made a mistake in decision-making, he gives people a sense of despair. Wrong is wrong, wrong, and it's not a big deal.

Huang Wenguan opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but he felt that no matter what he said now, he would be sarcastic about the teacher, so he had to shut up.

After a moment of silence, he spoke: "Then, teacher, what should we do now?" ”

"Wait!" The middle-aged man only spit out one word: "Some time ago, you were in charge of the series, and many orders were sent out from you, with that Lian Zining's ability, I must have suspected you, so during this time, don't act rashly, just wait and see!" You are also a court official, and he cannot do anything to you. ”

Huang Wenguan hesitated for a moment and hesitated: "Then, the student won't do anything?" The talents of the six counties just closed their eyes and waited for death? ”

Between the words, there was already a bit of indignation.

The middle-aged man's face did not change at all, but his voice was extremely cold: "What else?" Naturally, they close their eyes and wait for death, what is the difference between their life and death and ours? ”

Huang Wenguan trembled, and his neck stiffened: "If this is the case, the students dare not obey!" This matter started because of me, these talents are just a generational experience, how can the students watch them die? ”

The atmosphere in the quiet room froze instantly, and the middle-aged man stared at Huang Wenguan deadly, as if he wanted to look him up and down. The surroundings were quiet as if they were dead, Huang Wenguan bent over, lowered his head, and only felt that under the teacher's forced gaze, he couldn't even breathe, and his heart was just fear, as if a sharp sword was hanging above his head, and it might fall suddenly at any time. Beads of sweat the size of soybeans covered his forehead, dripping down.

The middle-aged man suddenly smiled lightly.

Just smiled, and the oppressive atmosphere in the room disappeared immediately, and Huang Wenguan couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.

"You, you!" The middle-aged man pointed at Huang Wenguan, shook his head and sighed: "After so many years, this upright surname, this stubborn problem, has it not changed?" ”

Huang Wenguan was just silent.

"Fit, being a teacher is just a test of you." The middle-aged man smiled faintly and said, "If you don't have this pure heart, you will be cold as a teacher." has been in officialdom for many years, who can still have a bit of true surname? The reason why you were chosen to do this great thing is because you have a last name compared to everyone else. ”

A few words reversed the slightly cold atmosphere because of what happened just now, and Huang Wenguan said gratefully: "Students, thank you for the teacher's suggestions." ”

The middle-aged man smiled and stood up: "Okay, you don't need to worry, you don't need to come here!" There is an adult, who is the most old-fashioned and innocent, if he knows the news, he will definitely go to the door. ”

A heavy snowfall, the world is exhausted.

The second morning was early in the morning, but it was a rare sunny day in winter, and early, a round of egg-like red was hanging in the sky.

Although the cold wind is still howling and the cold is pressing, the sky is clear, and people's hearts are also a lot brighter, and they all get up early in the morning and come out to set up stalls to do business.

There are a lot of people in the county office, and they are generally too lazy to live and cook in the early morning, so no matter which county, behind the county office, there are always some stores or stalls that sell cooked food.

Early in the morning, a small stall was erected, and four pillars were erected from arm-thick wood, topped with a top made of sedge, surrounded by a curtain to keep out the wind. There were three or five chapter tables and a dozen benches in it. The boss has already raised a cauldron outside, the oil is boiling, the dexterous hands are constantly kneading on the side of the board, a dough has been kneaded into a long strip, and then thinly cut into thumb-sized sections, two and two hands together a twist, this thin section is two twisted together strips, put in the oil pot for a while, and then use the two-foot-long chopsticks to clip out, is a yellow clear, fragrant fritters.

This is a small stall selling fried dough sticks and old tofu, the old tofu is a famous food in Shandong, and the tofu brain is slightly different, the soup is a hundred times thicker, the taste is delicious, it is rare in other places, but Shandong people are very few do not know, from ancient times to the present, how many Shandong people's breakfast is this. The proprietress in her forties, with a dark complexion, was laboriously moving the large wooden barrel containing old tofu and wrapped in a quilt to keep warm outside, and arranged the various colors, and put two large stacks of white bowls aside.

At this time, the guests have begun to be served one after another, and the two officials dressed up and accompanied the man with the waist knife yawned all the way over, and the honest face, the old farmer-like boss hurriedly greeted him, and said with a smile: "Liu Tou'er, Wang Tou'er, is it worth it?" ”

The people in the yamen, but whenever the people outside see it, regardless of whether the officials are big or small, they always have to call the first word. Although the Yangxin County Yamen is now a virtual reality, the authority of the government has been deeply rooted in people's hearts, and these two officials, who are equivalent to the regular establishment of the Public Security Bureau in later generations, are not something that a small boss can afford to provoke.

If it was changed in the past, this Liu Touer and Wang Tou'er would have to drink and drink, and they would not have to eat and drink for this meal and not give money. But now I also know that I can't do it alone, although these people still have the name of a servant, but they have nothing to do all day long, just sit at the door of the yamen in a daze, the oil and water are gone, the benefits are gone, the power is gone, and this majesty naturally can't shake up.

Therefore, the two just responded, and Liu Touer greeted: "Boss, a bowl of old tofu and five fritters." We're both the same, add a boiled egg to the bowl. ”

"Eh, okay, here we go, you two sit down first." The boss responded with a smile, quickly wiped the table and chairs and invited them to sit, and after a while, he served the fried dough and old tofu. The old tofu is added to the big bone broth that has turned white after boiling overnight, extremely fresh, very tender and fat, and poured on a thick sesame sauce, if it is in the season, it will also add green and tender minced leek leaves, and add the braised egg that has been peeled off and chopped.

The two of them looked at the gate for a night, and they were also hungry, and their foreheads were sweating and making a fuss.

After eating half full, the speed slowed down and the conversation increased.

Liu Tou'er put down the spoon in his hand and sighed: "Lao Wang, there is no way to pass this." ”

Lao Wang was concerned, nodded and said, "That's right, how beautiful were we before?" Whatever happened in the countryside of the county, they all begged us to go over, there are always more than ten trips a month to make a quick profit, and thirty taels of silver are said to be less! Not to mention the filial piety of those stores in the county, that's a good time! It's good now, poking in the yamen every day, like a second fool! ”

As he spoke, he was indignant in his heart, and when he slapped his thigh, the volume was raised a little: "Grandma is a bear, how many lifetimes have we passed on this errand, and it has been passed down at that time when I beat Yongle Ye, and it has been beautiful for a hundred and ten years, and now it is good, and I have no work, nor have I made any money, and I eat my old book at home every day, and my mother-in-law is about to let me go to bed, and I don't give me a good face when I see the sky!" Those businessmen are also white-eyed wolves, when our men mixed well, which one didn't come to stutter, and now the fuck doesn't pay attention to it when they meet, and their chin is raised so high, and they are not afraid of falling off! The house that was given to me before, you have also been there, the house with two entrances, and now the damn one has also taken it back! Phew! One day grandpa is developed, make them look good! ”

Lao Wang spat and said a lot of this, which also aroused Lao Liu's sadness, sighed, and said with a sad face: "Who said it wasn't!" Now that there are no errands, no power, no scenery, who still treats us as individuals? My outer room, too, fucking followed someone else, grandma's, I don't know how much silver I spent on this little bitch, but now it's good, it's all fucking cheap! ”

"With someone else?" Lao Wang's eyes widened, and he slapped the table with a knife on his waist: "It's really fucking treating us as waste, who are you with, killing a dog!" ”

Lao Liu glanced at him, and said weakly: "It's a small flag of Wu Yijun, didn't you tear down her yard when she made a white bandit a while ago?" The small banner of the Wu Yijun led a few people to repair, coming and going...... Mother [***], the silver woman! ”

As soon as he heard Wu Yijun's three words, Lao Wang was immediately deflated, his neck shrunk, and his shoulders collapsed. Who doesn't know now that the land of the six counties, Lian Zininglian, is the blue sky above his head, and the most unprovoked are the big soldiers of Wu Yijun!

Wu Yijun's soldiers are quite honest, in addition to maintaining law and order and investigating illegality, they also do not disturb the people, and even the filial piety silver sent by the shopkeepers in the city is pushed back. In this way, once or twice, some people said that it was contrived, and after three or four times, they were all convinced. Now when it comes to Wu Yijun, who doesn't give a thumbs up and say that he is really a hero? Not to mention the kind of good deeds that people do, military discipline is strict, and military law and military discipline are clearly written on the big shadow wall at the entrance of the barracks in various places, and it is the first article not to do anything with the people!

However, although Wu Yijun is not a bad soldier, but it is not easy to provoke, a few days ago in Lijin County, there was a gentleman and Wu Yijun soldiers clashed, the soldiers did not dare to do anything with the people, so they had to be beaten, and they were injured. This matter spread to the town guard's mansion, and even the adults passed it to Lijin County, without Wu Yijun's hands, the elders of the gentleman decided the case in the torture hall at home, and tied up this gentleman and that house slave and sank the Yellow River!

That gentleman, surnamed Meng, is a son of the largest family in the six counties!

As soon as this matter came out, who didn't know that Lord Lian Zining was the most protective at any time, and no one could touch the people under him, and if he moved, he would die!

Wu Yijun, who can afford to mess with who is raised by a girl?

Only Lao Liu was left crying and complaining with a sad face: "This little bitch, her yard is sold by Lao Tzu, and all the guys are bought by Lao Tzu, when will you not send her some gold and silver jewelry for the New Year's holidays?" The amount of silver spent on her is a hundred taels to the least, and it's all wasted. ”

The two of them looked at each other, both wanting to cry.

Speaking of which, although the profession of government servant was a cheap industry in the Ming Dynasty, it was also a big fat difference, to what extent is it fat? Some county magistrates are not as valuable as a small servant under him! At this time, the head catcher is equivalent to the second-in-command of the Public Security Bureau in later generations, and these officials are not small in power, and they are arrogant in front of the people, you can think about it, there are more than 100,000 people in a county, but it is so dozens of officials who are in charge, naturally they can't manage it, and there are more than a dozen to dozens of helpers under each officer, and when they perform tasks, most of them are doing it. How much does a county get in a year? How much grey income do they have? If you say less, there are more than 100 taels of silver a year, and if it is a rich county, a few hundred taels a year is not a problem!

So that the people who have done this profession are unwilling to let go, and over time, the officials of the Ming Dynasty have become hereditary.

The two of them were talking bitterly there, and the boss was still meticulously frying fritters, as if he hadn't heard anything.

At this time, the back door of the county government creaked open, and an ordinary carriage drove out of it, which looked very old and dilapidated, and it didn't seem to be a person with status. But if you look closely, you can find that the driver who drove the car was strong and powerful, with bright eyes and bulging pockets around his waist, which was obviously extraordinary. The horses that pull the carts are also tall and strong, with shiny fur, and are not ordinary horses.

A few servants-like people nodded and sent the carriage away, and the coachman whipped and threw a loud whip, and the carriage slowly moved towards the south gate.

The boss's eyes were visibly twitched, and the curtain of the carriage window was slightly raised, and a faint person was looking out.

The slaves sent the carriage away, and walked towards this side with a smile, and the next one greeted: "Old horse, one person will have a bowl of old tofu, add more soup, add more sesame juice, yes, fry a few steamed buns for us." ”

The boss hurriedly responded, and the servants sat down, and one of the younger ones knocked on his waist and complained: "These two can really toss, and they will come out after a night, and they will have to make up for sleep later." ”

"Shhh The leader glared at him, but he pretended to be mysterious and put the heads of several people together, and said mysteriously: "Do you know who this is?" This is from over there! The guy who drove the car had a Jinan accent! I'm really listening, this is a big shot! ”

"From Jinan Mansion?" Several people gasped, and at this time, Boss Ma came over with a smile, and the big tray in his hand contained a lot of golden and slightly blackened fried buns, and said with a smile: "Come on, you guys use it slowly!" ”

A few slaves left after eating and drinking, and Boss Ma gave his mother-in-law a look, then walked out of the stall, and walked into a small alley behind, and after a while, he walked out as if nothing happened.

A few more guests came, and Boss Ma hurriedly greeted him and greeted him very warmly: "Hey, a few old guests, come in and sit, sit inside." How many braised eggs do you want to add today? ”

(To be continued)