Master Lu stepped forward to open the door and asked in surprise, "Liu Yuanwai?" Which Liu Yuanwai? ”

The soldier arched his hand and said: "It's Liu Yuanwai who opened a pawn shop on Changle Street in Pingliang City." ”

Governor Liu walked over and said in a deep voice, "What did he do when he came to see this official?" Missing. ”

When the soldiers heard this, they turned around and wanted to go back to report it. Master Lu stopped and said to Governor Liu: "My lord, right now, we are employing people, and this Liu Yuanwai must also be a figure with a head and a face in Pingliang City." Adults may wish to meet and make a good impression. ”

Governor Liu listened to it and secretly pondered to himself, since this Liu Yuanwai can be called a foreigner, and he still runs a pawn shop on the bustling Changle Street, he must be a well-known gentry in Pingliang City. This person is the first gentry to visit since Governor Liu took office as governor of Shaanxi, and if he refuses and closes the door, it will inevitably ruin his reputation.

Governor Liu waved his hand at his soldiers and said, "Call him in." ”

After a while, the pro-soldier led a middle-aged man wearing a purple flower robe into the area.

When the middle-aged man saw Governor Liu, he immediately looked deep into the end, and said respectfully: "Grass people Liu Ben has seen Lord Zhongcheng. ”

Governor Liu sat on the Taishi's chair, nodded kindly at Liu Yuanwai, and said, "Liu Yuanwai doesn't need to be polite. Liu Yuanwai is in a hurry to see this official, what is the matter? ”

Liu Yuanwai looked at the furniture in the signing room, and admired and said: "When Governor Zhang was in office, the grass people also visited Zhang Futai many times, and when I came today, the furnishings in the house are still the same. Lord Zhongcheng is upright, with a clean breeze on his sleeves and a high wind and bright festival. It is really admired by the grass people. Pingliang City can usher in honest officials like Lord Zhongcheng, which is really the emperor's grace. A blessing to tens of thousands of people. Zhongcheng, please be worshiped by the grass people! ”

Governor Liu was very useful when he said this. The expression on his face became softer and softer, and he said to Liu Yuanwai with a smile: "The words of the staff are heavy." He pointed to the empty chair in the room and said, "Don't stand outside, please sit down." Then he said to Master Lu: "Master, call someone to serve tea." ”

Liu Yuanwai looked flattered, and stood up like a spring next to the chair, and thanked him again and again.

The steaming tea was brought up and placed in front of Liu Yuanwai.

Governor Liu warmly greeted Liu Yuanwai, and also used the fact that Liu Yuanwai was also surnamed Liu, in a joking tone. said that the two may have been a family hundreds of years ago. The atmosphere of the talks was quite harmonious. When Governor Liu asked Liu Yuanwai again about his intentions, Liu Yuanwai was a little embarrassed.

"That...... Zhongcheng, the grass people heard that a fire suddenly broke out in the backyard of the prefect's yamen yesterday night? Burned out a lot of things? Liu Yuanwai asked with a look of regret.

When it came to the fire, Governor Liu had nowhere to vent the evil fire in his stomach. Thanks to the fire, the backyard of the mansion, which was so good that it was possible to move in with his bags, was burned to the ground, so that Governor Liu still has not found a comfortable place to live.

"yes." Governor Liu nodded slowly, no matter what, the ugliness of the family should not be publicized. Although Governor Liu knew well about the fire, in front of Liu Yuanwai, an outsider, and did not know the intention of this person, Governor Liu could only pretend to be stupid. sighed and said: "Speaking of which, it is also the poor management of the prefect's yamen, coupled with the dry weather and dry things, the people in the yali use fire improperly." That's what led to the fire. ”

"Ah," Liu Yuanwai sighed softly. Asked with concern: "The fire damage is not severe, right?" ”

Governor Liu glanced at him, and became more and more unable to see through this person's intentions. The prefect's yamen caught fire. What does it have to do with you as an outsider who runs a pawnshop and does business? Could it be that you want to mortgage those stone tables and stone benches that have not yet been burned as money?

Governor Liu smiled dumbly, coughed lightly, exchanged glances with Master Lu on the side, and said happily: "Fortunately, when the fire started, the people in the house found it in time, and the local people helped them, the fire looked a little scary, but in fact it only ignited some weeds and trees in the garden, and the losses were some, but fortunately, it was not strict." What a blessing. Well, why does Liu Yuanwai care about this? ”

Liu Yuanwai breathed a sigh of relief, touched his chest with his hands, as if what he was worried about had not happened, rubbed his hands, looked at Governor Liu embarrassedly, and said in a hesitant manner: "Lord Zhongcheng said this, then the grass people will be relieved." That one...... In fact, the grass people came today to ask Lord Zhongcheng to settle the cost of building the backyard of the government. ”

"What? What are the costs? Governor Liu was taken aback and asked strangely.

Liu Yuanwai became more and more embarrassed, blushed slightly, and said: "Lord Zhongcheng has just arrived, so I don't know. The restoration and reconstruction of the backyard of the prefect's yamen after the last fire was undertaken by the grass people. A few days ago, the grass people settled the expenses with the same acquaintance Lord Xu, and Lord Xu said that he would wait for Lord Zhongcheng to take office. Now that Lord Zhongcheng has arrived, cough cough, although the backyard accidentally caught fire and there were some accidents, fortunately, the loss of the backyard was not strict, only some flowers and plants were burned, and the overall building was not affected...... Uh, Zhongcheng, look, are you going to settle this fee today? ”

At this time, Governor Liu felt like he was lifting a stone and hitting his own feet. After a long time, it turned out that Liu Yuanwai came to the door to ask for debts. Governor Liu's expression was much colder.

Xu Liang asked Governor Liu to pay for the project in his hand, but Governor Liu couldn't enjoy any benefits!

Governor Liu said coldly: "So that's the case. How much money does the government owe to the staff? ”

The indifference in Governor Liu's tone, Liu Yuanwai has worked hard in the shopping mall for many years, how can he not hear it. Liu Yuanwai was worried in his heart, and secretly said that this Lord Liu wouldn't want to repay the debt, right? He smiled and said: "Originally, there wasn't much money, more than two thousand taels of silver, Lord Zhongcheng, you said to give a whole number of two thousand taels." Hehe, Lord Zhongcheng is a high-ranking official of the third rank in the DPRK and China, and he will definitely not embarrass the grass people......"

When Governor Liu heard this, he couldn't help but glance at Liu Yuanwai, and he was embarrassed to mention the idea of delaying it just now. He patted his chest and said affirmatively: "Where did Liu Yuanwai say!" It's not easy to eat with a small amount of money outside the staff! Although the government is not rich, it will never send the little money outside. ”

"That's good, that's good." Liu Yuanwai said repeatedly.

"It's just ......" Governor Liu glanced at Master Lu and said embarrassedly: "This official has just arrived, and he is not familiar with the previous affairs of Pingliang Mansion. The staff contracted the restoration work in the backyard. How much work was done, how much wood and stone were spent. The official didn't have a number in his heart. Otherwise, wait patiently for a few days. After the official verifies, will you come again? ”

When Liu Yuanwai heard this, his face changed slightly. Listening to Governor Liu's tone, he just wanted to delay! At that moment, he took out another account book from his arms, held it in front of Governor Liu with a smiling face, and said, "Lord Zhongcheng is very right. However, Lord Zhongcheng can rest assured that the grass people do business and do things, and they are honest, which is the cost breakdown of the backyard of the Yafu. Lu Tongzhi of the prefect's yamen and several scribes in the workshop have checked it, and you see, there are several signatures and approvals of adults on it. This kind of thing can't be faked. ”

Governor Liu choked, didn't open it and looked at it, turned his hand and threw it to Master Lu, and said, "Master Lu will help take a look." ”

Master Lu took it and carefully opened it. Hurriedly browsed, and when I turned to the last page, I saw the signatures of Lu Yifa, the two directors of Pingliang Tongzhi and Pingliang Mansion, and Lu Tongzhi's seal was also printed on it. sighed secretly in his heart and nodded at Governor Liu.

Governor Liu groaned, his face uncertain.

Liu Yuanwai saw this. Uneasy in his heart, he asked carefully, "Zhongcheng." You see? ”

Governor Liu sighed, waved his hand at Liu Yuanwai, who looked worried and expectant, and said, "Since the prefect's yamen has also approved. There's not much to say about that official. Liu Yuanwai, you go directly to the house to get the money and settle. ”

Liu Yuanwai listened, took back the account book from Master Lu's hand, and went out to get the money with great gratitude.

Governor Liu sat back in his chair, feeling weak. and Master Lu stared at each other for a while.

Master Lu got up cautiously and said, "Zhongcheng, my subordinates will first send this letter to Elder Cao Ge to send it out." ”

"Let's go......" Governor Liu leaned his head against the edge of his chair and waved his hand.

After Master Lu left, Governor Liu maintained this posture and slowly closed his eyes, looking like he was dozing, but his eyes kept moving.

Governor Liu dozed off for a while, but felt that his head was getting more and more painful, and his mood was getting more and more irritable.

"Ahh Governor Liu stood up abruptly, screamed at the roof, and slammed his left fist on the table, slamming the table with a loud bang.

One of the soldiers who had just run to the door was immediately frightened and sat on the threshold.

"Your Excellency!" The soldiers shuddered.

Governor Liu turned his head suddenly, his red eyes glared at the pro-soldier who was kneeling on the threshold, and shouted fiercely: "What's the matter?" ”

The soldiers stood up from the ground with their hands and feet, presented an urgent letter with trembling hands, and said in a trembling voice: "Your Excellency, my lord, Xi'an Mansion is in a hurry!" ”

Governor Liu took three steps and made two steps, stepped forward, snatched the letter, waved his hand to rebuke the pro-soldier, and opened it to look at it.

The pro-soldier went out of Governor Liu's signing room, as if he was drunk, and did not return to his post to be on duty, trembling his legs, he went straight to the pro-soldier barracks on the side, found the pro-soldier captain who was replaced, and said with a sad face: "Captain, I, I am not a pro-soldier anymore......"

The captain glared at him and scolded, "You don't deserve? Lao Tzu still thinks about it! You saw Lao Tzu's predecessor, that Sha Lieutenant, right? Now it's time to feed the horses in the stable! Don't be verbose in front of Lao Tzu, be careful when you're bad! ”

The next day, Governor Liu urgently ordered generals from all over Shaanxi Province to gather in Pingliang City for a meeting. Although the order was to call the leading generals in Shaanxi Province to go, Xu Liang, who was resting at home, actually received a notice of the meeting. Perhaps Governor Liu felt that although Xu Liang was a civilian official, his subordinates still controlled tens of thousands of Liang troops, which was more or less half of the leading generals.

Xu Liang sent the personal soldiers who gave the order away, smiled disdainfully at Sima Qiudao, the artillery battalion master on the side, and said, "Now our governor is becoming more and more stylish. Passing on an order, he didn't use the prefect's yamen's errand, but used his own personal soldiers! It's so fresh! ”

Sima Qiudao held his mount with one hand, and said with a grin: "The last general has also heard that Governor Liu has driven all the servants and miscellaneous servants in the prefect's yamen out of the prefect's yamen, and now in the prefect's yamen, even the miscellaneous servants who sweep the floor are all taken care of by Governor Liu's own soldiers. Hehe, my lord, we, the governor, are afraid that we will be frightened by the fire! ”

"Haha......" Xu Liang laughed.

Sima Qiudao pointed to the carriage that had been prepared long ago, and asked, "My lord, will you go to the prefect's yamen for a meeting in a few days, or will you go to see those treasures with the last general?" ”

Xu Liang laughed and said: "Now the official is a person who is on vacation and at home, and Governor Liu is going to hold a military meeting, so I don't have the leisure time to participate." Let's go, it's better to see the treasures found by the artillery battalion. ”

……

In the mansion of Dai Feng, deputy chief soldier of Pingliang, General Dai also received a notice to go to the prefect's yamen for a meeting. On the scheduled day of the meeting, he let the waiting Yicui Shuangzhu, Zhen'er and Zhu'er's two maids wait to be neatly draped, looking like a mighty veteran. Xiong tangled, went out of the palace gate in high spirits, turned over his horse, and rushed to the direction of the prefect's yamen with a few personal soldiers.

On the way, he happened to meet Wang En, the general soldier of Ningxia who rushed to Pingliang City for a meeting, and the two walked together. After walking for a while, when he was about to walk to the Yamen of the Pingliang Prefect's Mansion, Dai Zongbing suddenly made an excuse to let Wang Zongbing go first, hid in a fork in the road, found a teahouse, walked in, recruited a pro-soldier, whispered in his ear for a while, and sent the pro-soldier away. Dai ordered a pot of tea, sat at the table by the window, sipped the tea slowly, and waited for the turn of the soldiers.

After two quarters of an hour's work, the soldier ran back sweating profusely and leaned into Dai Zongbing's ear and whispered for a while. Mr. Dai looked at the pro-soldier and asked, "Really, you're not mistaken?" ”

The soldiers patted their chests and swore to the sky: "General, you can't be wrong!" The subordinates asked the porter of Xu's mansion, and then specially asked a brother in the artillery battalion, and they all said that Lord Xu ignored the governor's meeting at all, and had gone into the mountain with General Sima, the owner of the artillery battalion, a few days earlier. ”

Mr. Dai touched the long beard on his chin, groaned for a while, patted his buttocks, got up and smiled, and waved his big hand: "Well, we won't participate in the bird meeting that fishes a lot." Go back to sleep. ”

In the main hall of the prefect's yamen, Governor Liu sat upright behind the desk, with a stern expression, and Master Lu stood on the side, muttering something to Governor Liu's shame.

In the hall of the mansion, two rows of Taishi chairs have already been set up. The people sitting in the hall can be said to shine brightly. He Huchen, the chief soldier of Yansui, Wang En, the general soldier of Ningxia, He Renlong, the garrison of Qingyang, and Li Ying, the guerrilla of Guyuan. In addition, there is also Shaanxi political participation Hong Chengchou.

There were still three or four chairs, which were empty.

Time passed slowly. Governor Liu was still sitting in the main seat, and showed no sign of starting to speak. The generals below couldn't help but chatted quietly.

He Zongbing turned his head and asked Wang Zongbing, "Hey, it's been so long, who do you say Lord Zhongcheng is waiting for?" ”

Wang Enchao, the chief soldier of Ningxia, twisted his mouth on the empty chairs and said, "Who else, Dai Fengbei, deputy chief soldier of Pingliang." ”

He Zongbing shook his head and said, "No, there are three chairs that are empty." ”

Wang Zongbing said: "That...... It is estimated that there is still Pingliang and Xu Liang, and Lord Xu ......"

"Lord Xu is a civil official......"

At this time, Liu Zhilun, the governor of Shaanxi who was sitting on the main seat, coughed heavily: "Hmm! ”

Wang En, the chief soldier of Ningxia, sat up straight, looked ahead without squinting, but his lips were still moving, and He Renlong, the chief soldier of Yansui, listened attentively, only to hear Wang Zongbing whispering: "Be careful, Liu Zhongcheng doesn't seem to have a good temper, don't offend him." ”

He Zongbing didn't squint, and asked in a low voice, "How can you see it?" ”

Wang Zongbing said: "When you came in, didn't you see that the guards along the road had changed Liu Zhongcheng's personal soldiers?" What kind of ...... is this to take people?"

Mr. He's expression was awe-inspiring.

At this time, Governor Liu glanced at the generals under the hall, frowned, and asked in a deep voice: "How can Pingliang know Xu Liang, and Pingliang's deputy general Dai Feng has not yet arrived?" ”

The generals were silent. Wang En, the chief soldier of Ningxia, thought that he had met Dai Feng, the deputy chief soldier of Pingliang, on the way here, so he explained softly: "Zhongcheng, the general at the end of the road when he came met Dai Zongbing, he should be there soon......"

Governor Liu heard this and said unhappily: "Then wait a little longer." ”

A room of people sat for a while, and suddenly heard a personal soldier outside the hall hurriedly running in, clasping his fist at Governor Liu, and said: "Your Excellency, General Dai, the deputy commander of Pingliang, asked someone to bring a message, saying that General Dai had a headache and was sick again, and he couldn't attend the meeting." ”

Bang! As soon as the pro-soldier's words fell, a new teacup fell to the ground under the hall and fell apart! The generals were stunned, and Governor Liu sat behind the desk, his face was pale! (To be continued......)