Within Xianyang.
In a residence in the west of the city.
This house is quite grand, with the two characters "Su Zhai" hanging at the gate.
This is the Su family in Xianyang.
In the whole of Xianyang, the Su family is not ranked at all. Looking at the entire Yongzhou, the Su family is like ants. Compared to the really big families like the Wang family, Zhang family, and Xu family, the Su family is a palm-sized family, dwarfed by the big ones.
Such a family, even outside Xianyang, is not weak. The family still has financial and material resources.
The head of the Su family is named Su Li, and he is over forty years old. In the early years, the Su family was quite depressed. Because Su Li acted radically and boldly, and because Su Li was good at maneuvering, the Su family could rise rapidly and gain some influence in Xianyang.
Su Li's son is named Su Cheng. He is in his early twenties and has a handsome appearance. He talks eloquently, but in fact his stomach is full of guts without much ink.
Su Li also has some connections.
Relying on the connections accumulated over the years, there would be no problem if Su Cheng was to be placed as a county clerk or a jailer in the county government. But to arrange for a higher position, his connections are not enough.
Su Li was upset about this. His son Su Cheng only worked as a small county official and a jailer. Su Li was not willing to accept it. He might as well run the family.
Su Li's idea was to use connections to arrange for his son to serve as the magistrate of a county.
This is the opportunity to make money.
Once the son becomes the local magistrate, it will be easy for him to collect money, and the family will grow rapidly.
Su Li never found an opportunity. Suddenly, the State of Qin issued a decree to open a subject in Xianyang to obtain scholars. Su Li saw an opportunity in this matter. His son didn't have much ink in his belly, so he was stronger than ordinary scholars from poor families.
Eventually, Su Cheng took part in the imperial examination.
Su Li had great hopes for this. As long as Su Cheng enters the list, and Su Li provides guidance and support from behind, Su Cheng's future will be boundless, and the Su family will completely leapfrog.
Unfortunately, Su Li's idea came to nothing with the announcement of the list.
Su Cheng failed to make the list.
You know, Su Cheng is his Su Li's son, a son of a big family, but he lost to a mud-legged man and a scholar from a humble family.
Su Li was very angry about this. After being angry, Su Li returned to reality and began to think of ways to solve this problem. His son wanted to serve as an official, but there was neither filial piety nor integrity, especially Su Cheng, who had no reputation. The only way was to take the imperial examination.
Unfortunately, I failed.
When Su Li was having a headache, he got news that someone from a big family arranged for someone to kidnap and coerce a poor scholar who had entered the list, and let his son take his place. This news was very secret. After all, Su Li was in this circle, so he got the news.
Su Li immediately followed suit. Fortunately, Su Li was an extremely shrewd person and did not arrange for private soldiers at home to do the work. Instead, he invited people with close connections to do the work.
There is an extra link in the middle.
Even if some accidents happen, there won't be any problems.
This is what Su Li is thinking.
Su Li stayed in the study, waiting for news. Thinking about his son, he was quite irritable. Arrangements for replacement this year must be successful. In Su Li's view, this was the first imperial examination. Although the arrangements were detailed, there were actually many flaws.
For example, there is only a name on the answer sheet and there is no statistical reference person. Lin Feng didn't know these people either. Even if the emperor summoned these scholars who were on the list, he would assign them positions based on their ranking.
Only then can there be room for maneuver.
It will be quite difficult to operate it again next year when everything about the imperial examination is standardized.
He only has this chance.
While Su Li was waiting, time passed little by little. In the afternoon and evening, night fell, and still no news came back. Su Li became a little nervous for a moment. If he failed, he would have no chance.
boom! boom!
There was a knock on the door.
The door was pushed open with a creak, and the housekeeper pushed the door in and hurriedly saluted: "Master, something happened. Dong Wugui failed to kidnap Lu Guang, and he and his men were killed. These people were hung outside the camp. Just ignore it.”
"I asked people to find out, and Lu Guang also went back. Nothing happened. The camp's publicity was that Dong Wugui and others were killed on the spot by Lu Guang's guards. So Dong Wugui probably didn't reveal any information at that time. "
"Besides, Dong Wugui doesn't know our situation. So we shouldn't have any problems."
brush!
Su Li's expression changed suddenly.
Failed!
Dong Wugui was actually dead.
Dong Wugui is a middle-aged man who intends to capture Lu Guang. He is a rogue and acts very ruthlessly. He had a close relationship with Su Li, and Dong Wugui helped solve many things that were difficult for Su Li to do. But this time, Su Li did not go to Dong Wugui directly, but to someone in the middle.
Therefore, Su Li is not too worried.
Su Li said: "Are you sure that Dong Wugui was killed on the spot?"
"Yes, he was killed on the spot."
The housekeeper said with certainty: "I asked someone to inquire about the information, and they were killed directly. What's more, Lu Guang was in the military camp and did not make any more moves. From this, it can be seen that the matter is nothing. It's just a pity that the young master can't do anything. Replace Lu Guang as an official. Once the young master replaces Lu Guang, he will be ranked number one. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Su Li frowned and said in a deep voice: "What happened this time was a failure. Fortunately, the news was not leaked. It's just that Cheng'er lost the opportunity. If he wanted to become an official, he lost the chance."
The butler rolled his eyes and said, "Sir, there is actually a chance."
"what chance?"
Su Li cheered up.
What he wants is that Su Cheng can become an official and make the Su family go further.
Even if it violates the law and discipline, he will not hesitate to do so.
In this world, the brave will be starved to death, so he has nothing to worry about.
There was a hint of sinisterness in the steward's eyes, and he said: "We have taken action against these scholars. If we fail once, the other party will be wary. Now that night has fallen, everyone has returned to the camp. There are troops stationed in the camp, so we can't take action again."
"We simply wait until His Majesty's meeting with the scholars is settled. The officials' official positions have been arranged. When they go to the local area to take up their posts, we will arrange for someone to intercept them halfway and take their place."
"These low-income people have no influence and are insignificant. Although they have appeared before, not many people know them at all. What's more, they go to local offices and come back many years later, and they have no impression."
The butler smiled and said: "I think this is the most appropriate strategy."
"Wonderful, wonderful!"
Su Li suddenly raised his head, with a smile in his eyes.
He praised: "This is a good idea. We choose people further down the list. Such people are less likely to attract attention and are easier to arrange."
"The master of the family is wise."
The butler answered respectfully.
After Su Li and the housekeeper settled the matter, Su Cheng went straight in. He said expectantly: "Father, is the matter settled? Didn't you say you were planning for your son to replace Lu Guang? Why is there no news yet?"
"Things failed."
Su Li said directly: "Dong Wugui went to capture Lu Guang and was killed. Don't think about it for the time being. But don't worry, my father has another plan and will arrange it for you. After your Majesty summons the scholars, , as a father, I will ask you to take the place of someone else."
"well……"
Su Cheng sighed.
Su Li said: "Why are you sighing?"
Su Cheng said: "Father, you don't know that Zhang Wu is too arrogant. Earlier, his son and he were drinking in Lehefang. He said that his father had captured a scholar named Pang Shuangxi. Although Pang Shuangxi didn't say Agreed, but after all, he was arrested. Tomorrow Zhang Wu will replace Pang Shuangxi and go to see His Majesty. I heard that some people also arranged it this way. In short, many people do this. "
Su Li said in a deep voice: "They are them, you are you, you don't have to worry about what they do. This time, my father will make arrangements for you. Don't worry about anything else, you just need to be ready to go to the place and take up your post. "
"Thank you dad."
Su Cheng felt relieved.
He was already bragging, saying that his father had already planned everything for him.
Su Cheng didn't want to lose this breath.
After Su Cheng withdrew, Su Li looked at the housekeeper and ordered: "Butler, please choose a good person as soon as possible and then do some research."
"Here!"
The butler turned around and left.
The gaze in Su Li's eyes was full of cruelty, and there was no trace of gentleness. He dared to sacrifice everything for his son and his family, even if he took desperate risks, he would not hesitate to do so.
