The yamen of Jingzhao Mansion was in a lively mood. Everyone took advantage of Master Zuo's banquet to have some free time. Unexpectedly, Master Zuo ran back in less than an hour, and he even called everyone back to the mansion from home. When everyone learned that Mr. Zuo was prepared to fight all night long, everyone was shattered. They wondered why there was such a workaholic? He worked so hard day and night, forgetting to eat and sleep while handling the case.
While everyone was complaining, Zuo Gongming also issued an order - to collect large sums of money for information and clues about the thieves! Even if you just see the thief is fat or thin, it doesn't matter, ten taels of silver a piece, the price is clearly marked, and he is innocent!
This news caused quite a stir as soon as it came out, and the onlookers were all itching to watch. But he was jealous, and these ten taels of silver were not so easy to get. After all, it concerned the Chang Mansion, so most of the morning passed, and still no one came to the government office.
One morning passed, and all the local officials and servants were dozing off. Even Zuo Gongming himself lay on the table and caught fish. Suddenly, a middle-aged man was playing drums at the entrance of the government office. The sound of the drums woke up all the people inside who were wandering in their thoughts. After a while, a government official ran in from outside, knelt in front of the hall and said, "Sir, there is a person outside the door who wants to see you."
"Are you here to get clues in exchange for rewards?" Zuo Gongming asked sleepily with red eyes.
"Come back, sir! That person claims to be an official of the school affairs office."
"School Affairs Office...? What does it care about..."
Zuo Gongming murmured in a low voice that the school affairs office gave all the officials a mysterious and dark feeling, and all the officials were unwilling to come into contact with him, because once he came into contact, nothing good would come of it, and Zuo Gongming was no exception. However, although he didn't really want to see that person, after all, they were colleagues who were officials in the same dynasty, so it would be a bit embarrassing if he refuted him too much.
So Zuo Gongming said to the audience: "Call him to come in -"
After receiving the order, the officer quickly stood up and ran towards the gate. After a while, a dark-skinned man walked in. The man had a serious expression and no smile on his face, which made people feel very 'cold'. Zuo Gongming pretended to look at the volume in his hand, as if he didn't see the person.
The man walked straight up to Zuo Gongming and said very humbly: "I have met Mr. Zuo."
Although this man has a rough appearance, his voice is unusually calm. Zuo Gongming was attracted by the calm voice, but his eyelids only twitched slightly, but his eyes still did not leave the volume in his hand. He picked up the volume, turned a page, and asked unhurriedly: "Who is this person in the hall? Why don't you kneel down when you see me?"
"I'm off to you, Tie Ge!" The official who called himself Tie Ge replied equally unhurriedly. Even if officials of the Tang Dynasty were tried in public, they could not kneel as long as they were not convicted.
Zuo Gongming raised his eyes, and then said doubtfully: "Tie Ge? Never heard of it."
Seeing Zuo Gongming's indifferent attitude, Tie Ge was not impatient and said: "This official is just a minor official in the school affairs office. Don't be surprised if Master Zuo has never heard of him."
"School Affairs Office? Why do you come to this office? Could it be that I have done something illegal and the School Affairs Office wants to come to question me?"
Over the years, civil and military officials have gradually become familiar with this mysterious organization. In addition to Pan Jiachang, who made a big fuss in the city a while ago, there have been some large and small cases in recent years that have the shadow of the school affairs office behind them. Therefore, it is mentioned All the officials turned pale when they saw it. Later, people learned that the School Affairs Office was an outside spy in the palace. It could spy on the military and national conditions of other countries, and it could monitor hundreds of officials and people internally. No matter who it was, once it was targeted by the School Affairs Office, it would often end badly, or His reputation was ruined, or his wife and children were separated, so whether he was an official or a citizen, he could not avoid the school affairs office, and secretly even regarded it as a god of plague and a disaster star. What's even worse is that the eyes and ears of the School Affairs Office are hard to detect, and they feel like they are everywhere. Even Wang Yanqing, who has been immersed in officialdom for many years, has a vague feeling that there are also eyes and tentacles of the School Affairs Office around him. Therefore, it is no wonder that Zuo Gongming has a bad attitude towards the people in the school affairs office.
Faced with Zuo Gongming's aggressive questioning, Tie Ge smiled and said, "Master Zuo is joking."
"Then what is the purpose of Master Tie's trip?" Zuo Gongming asked in confusion. Then he looked at the other people in the hall and asked loudly: "Is it possible that someone in this house has committed a crime?"
This question scared the officials quite a bit. The trace of sleepiness that was still there completely disappeared at this moment. Everyone was seen shaking their heads, and they almost shook their hats off their heads.
Tie Ge smiled, stopped playing riddles with Zuo Gongming, and said, "Master Zuo, can you do me a favor and lend me a step to talk?"
Zuo Gongming looked at the people who had slightly frightened eyes at this moment and nodded. Everyone quickly left the hall as if they had been granted amnesty, wishing they could spread their wings and leave this kind-faced Master Tie.
Seeing that there were only two people left in the hall, Tie Ge bowed again and said: "Master Zuo, I heard that Jingzhao Mansion is handling the case of theft at General Chang's Mansion."
Zuo Gongming probably knew the purpose of Tie Ge's visit. He frowned and said, "This is a case appointed by the Holy Emperor. Naturally, I will go all out."
"Then Master Zuo, can you make it easier...?"
"convenient?"
"If there is any news about the thief... Mr. Zuo, can you ask me to lower my official position?" Seeing that Zuo Gongming still showed a puzzled look, Tie Ge continued: "This thief is so courageous and has no law, he actually ran away. If he comes to the general's house to steal, if the thief is not dealt with strictly, it will be difficult to control the general Chang's anger."
Hearing this, Zuo Gongming suddenly threw the volume on the table with great interest and asked with a smile: "Is Master Tie so sure that we can catch the thief?"
"Lord Zuo knows everything. If not, how could he win the trust of His Majesty?"
"The school affairs office wants to catch a thief for General Chang? General Chang...are you planning to use public weapons for personal use?"
Tie Ge was startled, and then said: "Haha, Mr. Zuo is making fun of you. Although I am a subordinate of General Chang, I am also a friend of General Chang. I am not here to represent the school affairs office. If there is any news about this thief, , the brothers from the Shence camp will naturally come out to arrest him without your government dispatching him."
In this way, Zuo Gongming couldn't use "public weapons for private use" to refute Tie Ge, but he still didn't intend to give in, and continued: "How can you kill a chicken with a bull's knife? It's just a little thief, why does Shence Camp need to take action?"
"Thieves are a small matter, but a general's face is a big deal."
Zuo Gongming smiled slightly and did not say any more.
Seeing that it was difficult to convince Zuo Gongming for a while, Tie Ge stopped pestering him and said wisely: "Master Zuo, if you think about it again, I will interrupt you in handling the case. I'll take my leave -"
After that, without waiting for Zuo Gongming to say anything else, he left without looking back.
Zuo Gongming snorted coldly as he watched Tie Ge leave, and then he fell into deep thought again.
After a long time, just when Zuo Gongming wanted to call back all the officials hiding outside, the drums outside the door sounded again. He stretched his neck and looked outside, and saw the gatekeeper who had just reported the news running in again, kneeling on one knee in front of the hall and reporting loudly: "Your Excellency! There is someone outside the door asking to see -"
"Are you here to provide clues?"
"Uh...no...uh...yes..."
"explain!"
"It's Mr. Wang who came to ask for an audience——"
"Master Wang? Which Master Wang?"
"Mr. Wang from the School Affairs Office."
Why is there another official from the school affairs office? Zuo Gongming couldn't help but feel a little angry. Although the School Affairs Office was a poisonous snake hiding in the dark, Zuo Gongming was never afraid of it. Even Wang Yanqing wasn't afraid of him. How could he still be afraid of the School Affairs Office? Zuo Gongming, who was upright, was not afraid of slanting shadows. He was able to walk upright even when he was an official twice before and after. What should he be afraid of?
"See you, see you! If there is no information, let him go back!"
"Sir! This Lord Wang... is the nephew of Lord Shangshu..."
"Master Shangshu?" Zuo Gongming thought carefully and immediately came to his senses. He patted his forehead and said to himself: "What is he doing here?"
"Master Wang said that he has a clue here that may be able to help you..."
"Then what are you waiting for!? Why don't you call him in?"
"Yes Yes!"
The yamen servant seemed to be trotting away. After a while, Wang Shaojing came from outside with a smile on his face. Different from the past, he changed his usual attire of a young master. Today he was wearing an official uniform, looking extremely formal. .
Although Zuo Gongming was at odds with Wang Yanqing, his nephew had never met him. Seeing Wang Shaojing coming to the door on his own initiative, Zuo Gongming also said politely: "Your Excellency, Mr. Wang, is here in person at the government office. I am sorry to welcome you from afar, but I still hope to see you." Forgive me——"
"What did Mr. Zuo say? The lower official came here to do official business. Moreover, Mr. Zuo has a higher official rank and seniority than the lower official. He is my superior. How can he come to welcome you from afar?"
Wang Shaojing didn't have the arrogance of the past at all, and his speech and behavior were extremely decent, even though he was facing someone who had offended his uncle.
Zuo Gongming was not polite. He looked at Wang Shaojing and said, "I heard that Sir Wang has any clues to provide?"
Wang Shaojing had a serious look on his face. His smile when he came in had already disappeared, and he said——
"Yes, I am here for this very reason..."
Before Wang Shaojing could finish his words, Zuo Gongming suddenly raised his hand and interrupted his words.
Wang Shao looked at Zuo Gongming in surprise and confusion. Zuo Gongming asked with a smile on his face: "Who do you represent, Mr. Wang, on this trip...?"
"Your Majesty..."
Wang Shao was shocked and hesitated to speak. He did not expect that Zuo Gongming would ask him so straightforwardly, without even making a basic tacit understanding. This person was so forthright that it was no wonder that he offended his uncle back then. Looking at Zuo Gongming with a smile on his face, Wang Shaojing thought quickly in his heart, and then a smile also appeared on his face. He said loudly: "When a lower official works for the imperial court, he naturally represents the Holy One——"
Seeing the little fox in front of him speaking so accurately, the smile in Zuo Gongming's eyes became even brighter. However, since he had already spoken to this extent, Zuo Gongming could no longer be so defensive and said: "Then please invite Mr. Wang. Speak up!”
"Xiaguan discovered something strange when he was patrolling the south of the city recently."
"Oh? What a weird thing?"
"Liu Qian from the south of the city disappeared a few days ago. News came out a few days later... that Liu Qian fell off a cliff and died when he was out... There was a hasty funeral at his home and there was no news again."
