Li You hurriedly went to Xujiang County, and hurried back to Fucheng overnight after half a day.

In the early morning of December 15, the Suzhou Prefecture Office sounded several drums, and the daily pai yagong routine opened, and the officials below the same level gathered in the lobby to meet the prefect. At the same time, all kinds of people and other matters of all kinds report to the government in turn for instructions, and listen to the instructions, this is called the yashen.

Everyone in the officialdom knows that although Beijing officials are expensive, they also envy local parents. First, the local chief official is known as the herdsman on behalf of the Son of Heaven, in order to show the majesty of the official government in front of the people, there is a canopy honor guard in and out, and the scenery is magnificent, and it is impossible for officials in Beijing to have these pomp and circumstance. The second is that the magistrates, parents, and officials can enjoy the grandeur of each row of officials, and dozens of subordinate officials and officials visit the shrine together, just like a copycat version of the emperor going to the court -- he has Huang Zhong Dalu, we have Bangzi drumming, he has the inner servants shouting, and we have the officials shouting. And in Beijing, even if he became an old scholar of Shanghange, he was not used.

Coming back, in the lobby of Suzhou Mansion, Wang Tongzhi was omitted as usual, starting with the general judgment of the master, and then pushing the official, experience, and grinding. After the officials and old men finished talking, when the officials of the sixth room were looking at the counselor, they saw Governor Li, who was sitting on a cold bench with the old man Wang in the Tongzhi Hall, suddenly came out of the crowd, stepped forward and bowed to the prefect and said: "The lower officials have something to participate in, and it is said that rice is more expensive recently, and it is difficult for the poor people in the city to make a living. ”

Everyone was surprised. Governor Li has been very low-key since he took office, and he has never said a word from the Yashang, and now he said that he didn't know why he was talking, and besides, he had his own general judgment and charge for the warehouse affairs, and Li You was a little overstepping. Also, what is the situation in this Gusu Cang, the officials in the hall have a number in their hearts, there are only some emergency rice left that may not be enough for next year's spring famine, how can they calm the price of rice now, and everyone can't help but think that Li You is too talkative and troublesome. It's not that the government hasn't remedied, how can the more you buy back the rice, the more expensive it is, and the water from other places can't save the fire.

Governor Mao became angry in his heart, and secretly said that the official didn't have time to attack you last time, but you continued to kick your nose in the face, do you really think that the official can't move you? scolded: "The little boy dares to talk about political affairs!" What's the use of you talking too much..."

Before the prefect of Mao finished speaking, Li You interrupted him without distinction and reprimanded loudly: "The people in the mansion are not happy, but the lord of the mansion has lived in peace like Mount Tai for months, and regards the suffering of the people of Li as nothing?" How innocent are the people of Sufu, who have been ruled by such a faint official as you! Cadaver vegetarian meal! Incompetent! Shameless! ”

The officials and officials in the lobby were stunned, and a small Jiupin miscellaneous official who was not much better than the officials took the initiative to scold the top boss Sipin Zhengyin, what is the situation? Some of the old officials who have worked in the yamen for 30 years have never seen such a situation, and they are amazed in their hearts, it is really a rare scene in a hundred years.

Even Governor Mao didn't expect that Li You, a little person, would insult him like a shrew scolding the street in front of him, his angry beard trembled non-stop, he had already lost his calm, stretched out his hand and pulled out the sign and fell down and said sharply: "Hit this official!" ”

Governor Li was fearless and said impassionedly: "Even if you die, what!" The lower officials ask for the people's lives, why not be afraid of death! ”

Wang Tongzhi watched coldly, and sighed in his heart, you are too involved in acting, and you have gone too far. He stood up and said to Governor Mao: "Lord Li is an official, and if he makes a mistake, he will be punished, and the mansion must have some dignity, can't he listen to a few words of slander." ”

Governor Mao looked at Li You's face in his eyes, and for some reason thought of the predecessors of this dynasty who teased the Son of Heaven and begged for fame and fame, and he still had some admiration at that time, but now he suddenly felt that this kind of behavior of selling fame and reputation was really disgusting. Seek kindness and be benevolent, and then fulfill him... Governor Mao patted the case and said: "People are coming from left and right!" Push this disrespectful thief out of the flail and show the public! ”

Wang Tongzhi protested again: "This is a chaotic life! The government has no right to deal with the court officials like this! ”

Governor Mao gritted his teeth and said, "So what? ”

Those officials who didn't listen to Wang Tongzhi walked up to Li You and gestured: "Lord Li, please stop, don't force the little ones to do it." ”

Li You snorted coldly and walked out of the lobby with his head held high.

The punishment of flail to show the public is also common, and it is often used on people who owe grain taxes or have a loss of virtue, and the flail is outside the yamen to set an example, but Li You did not expect that he would suffer today.

Originally, Li You was wearing thick leather pants to prevent hitting the board, but now he is an official, and Governor Mao will not pick up his pants and beat him, but it seems that Bai is ready. However, wearing a wooden flail should be easier than hitting the board, and it is estimated that it will not be worn for a while, which can be regarded as experiencing life. And he had already explained that Zhang San was improvised, and there was probably no problem below.

Although he thought about it easily, when he saw the official on duty carrying the wooden flail, Li You suddenly changed color - this wooden flail is also divided into grades, there are 20 catties, 40 catties, 80 catties, and 100 catties. Such a wooden flail, where can it be worn, it can directly press people to the ground, whether it is sitting or kneeling, the shape is very humiliating, and only the ugly and evil people will have the treatment, how can Li You lose this face? He knew in his heart that these cheap servants were going to beat the water dogs to please the prefect, and said angrily: "Wait for these dog thieves, dare to do this!" ”

The foreman's official surnamed Hu didn't smile and said: "If Lord Li wants to blame himself, just blame himself, but he goes to touch the moldy head of the old man of Fuzun, and the small one can't make Fuzun unhappy when he eats this bowl of rice." ”

"If you make the official unhappy for a while, the official will make you unhappy for a lifetime!" Li You reprimanded.

Hu Bantou said disdainfully: "Let's talk about this when Master Li becomes the prefect." ”

Villain, really villain. Li Youqi's seven tricks are smoking, he can't calculate that there will be such a situation, but there is nothing to do, before the official collapse of Governor Mao's mansion, his words of Governor Li are useless.

I knew this earlier, I should have restrained my acting today, Li You regretted it in his heart. When he was helpless, he heard someone next to him shouting "Stop"! When I turned my head, it was Hong Patrol.

In the government office, if you want to talk about Li You's understanding, Wang Tongzhi is the first, followed by Hong Patrol, how to say it, he has directly dealt with it several times. In the lobby just now, Hong Xun felt very strange when he saw Li You's words and deeds, he knew that Li You was definitely not such a righteous or reckless person, and normal people would not do anything like a subordinate of the ninth rank to insult the fourth rank official, let alone Li You with such a heart, and he also knew that Li You's backer Chen Zhixian had a deep background. All these circumstances can be taken together, and it can be concluded that there must be some deep meaning in it.

After thinking about it, Hong Xunzhu quietly slipped out of the lobby, and when he went outside, he sold a good one to Li You first, and stopped Hu Bantou by drinking. As a role similar to the chief catcher, Hong Patrol's status is much higher than that of Hu Bantou, and Hu Bantou does not dare to directly disobey when he speaks.

"You guys get out of the way, I want to say a few words to Master Li." Hong Patrol said with a wave.

Li You smiled bitterly and said, "Is Hong Patrol even here to talk about business?" What is the price of losing a pound of wooden flail? ”

Hong Xunzhu said in a low voice: "Lord Li said that he laughed, and I want to ask Lord Li what he means by today's actions?" ”

"The official pinched his fingers and knew that it would be good for him to scold the Fuzun today." Li You pretended to say, "Hong Patrol can change the wooden flail, and there will be a good reward." ”

Hong Xunzhu took a deep look at Li You, and said in his heart, I heard that Ma Xun was a Qinchadu who had no choice but to Chen Zhixian, which shows that Chen Xianzun's background is huge, and this Chen Xianzun has an extremely close relationship with Governor Li, and I heard that the third master of Zhaojiaxiang Zhao Mansion also often corresponds with Governor Li, so Governor Li will not have no way back. Helping him once at this time is also a favor in the snow, and it should be rewarded. Even if he is blamed by Mao Zhifu, it is not impossible to make up for it, and the worst result is to stay up for a year to boil away Mao Zhifu, who has been working for five years and is about to expire in six years.

Draw a conclusion that the deal is worth it. After the calculation, Hong Patrol called Hu Bantou over and said: "Change to the lightest one, I will bear the blame of the eldest master." ”

In this way, Governor Li was put on a wooden flail, pushed out the gate of the palace, and stood under the eight-character wall to show the public.

It is said that the outside of the government gate has always been very lively, and it is called "yamen economy" in modern terms. From those who sell pen, ink, paper, and inkstones to those who write petitions, from those who go to the government to file lawsuits, from intermediary brokers to idlers who watch the excitement, from tea stalls that talk about things to restaurants that are full of people, one word, bustling, all in all, there are a lot of people.

As soon as someone was pushed out today, it attracted the attention of countless people at the yamen. It is not uncommon for these people to mingle at the gate of the yamen all the year round, but it is rare for an official man wearing a cyan official robe to be pulled out of the exhibition with a wooden flail, and he has to come forward to watch strongly.

"Isn't this Governor Li, who has only been in office for two or three months?" Someone immediately recognized Li You.

"If you can give Governor Li a wooden flail, only the lord of the mansion can? What did you do? ”

"You don't understand, this is the legendary political struggle! I heard that Governor Li is Wang Tongzhi's person, and Wang Tongzhi is not dealing with Fuzun, Governor Li must have been caught by Fuzun and repaired his sore feet. ”

"A few days ago, I heard that Governor Li wrote a poem for the people to satirize the prefect, won't he be retaliated against? There is no reason in this world. ”

Li You looked at the sky with both eyes, and scolded Zhang San in his heart, why didn't he come out yet, master, I am about to play tricks for people to watch.

Finally, I saw Zhang San staggering out of the mansion, kneeling at Li You's feet and hugging his thighs and crying: "Master! You have a lot of rice to eat, what does it have to do with you if the price of rice is 100 taels, and what does it have to do with you if the rice in the warehouse is out of the cang? What is it worth to fight against Fuzun for this! The poor old man wants to suffer the humiliation of this torture instrument, who will think of your good intentions among those ignorant people, you really can't do it! ”

With Zhang San's shout, the onlookers were in an uproar, none of these people were rich, and they felt the pain of rice prices. Hearing that Master Li was punished for offending the prefect because of the rice problem, the crowd became excited on the spot, and they cheered for Li Youhuan together, and words of praise flew all over the sky.

Hearing the lightness in his ears that made Master Li feel light, he understood why Chen Zhixian was keen on fame.

Actually, I'm not that good... Li You put his hands across the plank, barely made a gesture like arching his hands to the crowd, and said loudly: "Li You is incompetent, and he is ashamed of his fellow villagers, so don't want this official." ”

The official who was guarding on the side sneered in his heart, but he was just a useless cold stove official, what kind of big man he was, and it was useless to play affectionate interaction with these small people, and 10,000 sentences were not as good as a sentence from the prefect.

At this time, a team of people suddenly appeared outside the gate of the government office, showing the official card honor guard, and a forerunner shouted: "The Prime Minister of the Imperial Mission, the Suzhou Grain Reserve, and the Deputy Imperial Envoy of the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate are ordered to come here!" Idle people and other people avoided, Suzhou Mansion quickly greeted! ”

Governors? On the spot, there was a curfew who rushed into the yamen in a panic and rushed into the yamen to report.

It's coming! Li You was overjoyed, he secretly saw this old man in Xujiang County yesterday, so he dared to unscrupulously play the role of an iron-clad official who asked for his life today.

(To be continued)