Ferry Station
The snow has fallen a little less, but there are still patches of flying feathers. However, because of the ferry, not only horses but also boats come and go, so the inn is very big.
Luo Pei got off the boat, and there was a post station not far from the pier. The post master had already greeted him and sent post soldiers to help carry the ceremony. Luo Pei entered along the east corridor and walked along the east corridor. As soon as he entered the courtyard, Luo Pei listened. Hearing the voice and seeing an official rushing out and facing each other twice, he couldn't help but be startled.
Opposite him was a civil servant, dressed in the fourth grade, but with a slightly raised chin and a bit of aloofness, which was actually not a good look.
"What's wrong, Brother Chai Nian, why are you so angry?"
This civil servant is Chai Kejing, who is actually the same year as Luo Pei, but his official luck is not very good, and now he is just a prefect.
"Governor Luo, brother Luo Nian, it's freezing cold during the Chinese New Year. I asked the inn to give me some charcoal, but they didn't allow it." Chai Ke said angrily.
"Mr. Governor, Mr. Chai, unless I am unwilling, the imperial court has repeatedly issued orders. No one is allowed to borrow for reconnaissance unless on official business. The hired ships must be purchased and prepared by themselves as soon as they are provided with food, and there are more regulations for the supply of firewood and charcoal." Yi Cheng said bitterly. Face, be careful not to accompany me: "I am humble enough to give you my role, okay?"
In fact, if it weren't for Luo Pei, Yi Cheng wouldn't care about Chai Kejing at all. It's not a system at all, and the grade gap doesn't matter. Now it's more important than a small thing. . .
"Oh, so that's what happened." Luo Pei smiled nonchalantly. The imperial court had an order for officials to pass through the post station on their way to and from office, and they had to pay for everything at their own expense. Only those who are "on a business trip" or even "traveling to the post station on orders" can enjoy the free food and accommodation provided by the post station. He immediately waved his hand and said, "I'll give you half of my share of the charcoal supply. It's not worth getting angry about. Come on, come in and talk."
Yi Cheng had already heard it. He was used to receiving officials. He hurriedly agreed and invited the "sir" to rest in the upper room. He gave him hot water for his feet and dinner. In a short time, he got four dishes.
Chai Kejing finally lost some of his anger and raised his glass to drink. After a few drinks, Luo Pei asked: "You are a prefect in Zhili, and you are one rank higher than other prefects. It is not bad. You won't have to worry about this." Is there anything wrong with getting angry over trivial things?"
"Oh, I have bad luck. Last year's harvest was not good. The imperial court seemed to be interested in providing disaster relief. It sent people to count the grain depots and warehouses in various places. However, the grain depot of my Yu Lin Mansion suddenly lost fifty thousand shi. I have to report it. I have been ordered to go to Beijing to resume my duties." Chai Kejing drank a glass of wine in a depressed manner.
After hearing this, Luo Pei suddenly understood that in fact, the grain depot was not under the control of the prefect, at least not directly, and it was not known who was behind the matter, so it would be depressing to have the blame fall on him.
After a moment of silence, he asked again: "How is it specifically?"
"After being warned, I went to check." Chai Kejing said dullly: "The grain warehouse is tall and strong, and it has good ventilation. How could it get moldy? Some bastard must have eaten the grain, and then I took the blame. Conscience, I haven’t received a penny.”
"Is the situation like this again?" The muscles on Luo Pei's face twitched: "In the previous dynasty, the grain depots were so depleted that the mice starved to death. The court wanted to send troops, only to find that the army rations were gone. A hundred thousand troops couldn't launch a single attack. Baili, it has only been 30 years since the founding of this dynasty, is this so?"
"Sure enough, if we don't guard against the slightest change, the administration of officials will deteriorate too quickly!"
At this point, there was nothing they could do. The two of them drank some wine in depression. Chai Kejing was still a little sober, so he left half drunk and left. Luo Peiluo washed up and went to rest, but he lay on the couch and couldn't sleep.
"If the officials manage things like this, they have to make mistakes. It won't work without treatment."
"If we don't take advantage of the country's rising power to clean it up, it will be difficult to clean it up in the future."
Luo Pei thought about his thoughts one by one, and then thought of his grandson: "The emperor officially established the acting king as his grandson, and also granted me the title of Prince Shaobao. There is also news that I am interested in being the examiner of this spring period. This is really to help the emperor." Sun?"
"Sure enough, it is the emperor's blessing. I have to arrive in the capital as soon as possible to prepare."
With his heart churning like this, Luo Pei listened to the sound of rustling snow, which was fast and slow, and he was about to fall asleep. Suddenly, he heard a "pop" sound, which immediately eliminated half of his sleepiness.
"Who is still walking around my room in the middle of the night?" Luo Pei suddenly woke up from his drowsiness and couldn't help but frown: "Is Yi Cheng acting like this?"
Just as I was thinking about it, suddenly there was another "pop", and then I heard clearly that it was the sound of stones being thrown in.
"No, no." Luo Pei was shocked. He touched the hilt of the sword not far away, then put some snacks and ordered the folds. However, he saw a small hole in the window paper and the cold wind penetrated. He opened the window to take a look, but there was no one there. .
Startled for a moment, he turned the candle on the ground and saw the paper package.
"Isn't it too unofficial that Chai Kejing has something to say but dare not say it openly, yet he does such a trick in secret?"
Luo Pei thought that if this was the case, he would have to lower his evaluation. He took it out and took a look at it, but he immediately felt excited and subconsciously looked around.
There was no one, only an animal that didn't know whether it was a dog or a cat was running past in the distance.
Unable to believe it, he lit the candle again and went up to take a look. Sure enough, it was Taisun's excellent fly-pen calligraphy. Luo Pei knew that something big had happened. He calmed down and looked carefully. His face turned blue and white.
After reading it, I stood in the dark like a puppet for a long time. I don't know how much time passed, and I only heard a cock crow. Then I put the note on the candle, and saw a fire, which quickly burned cleanly.
At this time, the sky was getting dark, and the voice of people was gradually rising in the station. Luo Pei simply washed his face, blew out the lamp and sat on the chair with his eyes closed to relax, his expression dull.
The courtyard, illuminated by snow, was particularly cold.
Beijing·Early morning
Xing Ye hesitantly came to a hotel. Although the road was not far and the weather was cold, he was sweating on his back. He looked around and saw a wooden sign on the door with the four words "Fame and fame are given by heaven" written on it. After thinking deeply, he went up and knocked on the door.
"Who?" A man in a gray cotton robe opened the door a crack, looked Xing Ye up and down and asked, "Is there anyone like this who comes to the door so early?"
Xing Ye said: "Is this the fortune teller of Tiekou? Go in and tell the story. I am a Juzi from Shanglu County. I want to tell my fortune..."
As he said that, he was cruel and handed over five taels of silver ingots.
The man was startled for a moment, then took it and nodded: "Wait a moment."
After closing the door, Xing Ye breathed a sigh of relief and sat down on the stone strips of the corridor. It was freezing in the early morning, but it was rare that the sky was clear. There was a layer of brown fog in the sky, but there were stars twinkling.
"Hey, I wonder if it's true?"
Although there is a lot of money, it is not my own money. I only raised 200 taels from selling land. My family watched eagerly for me to win the Jinshi. If I didn't win, I wanted to donate to a minor official. But when I arrived in the capital, When a countryman saw that he was only willing to eat Yangchun noodles and not even part with slices of meat, he fell ill again, and relied on the store and kind-hearted people for relief. He felt pity and told him: "Go to Dongshan Inn and pay five hundred taels of silver." , you can buy questions!”
"If you don't have enough money, you can ask your fellow villagers to borrow money."
Xing Ye didn't believe it at first, but then he started to have doubts and doubts: "I have failed repeatedly. Is it because I am not talented enough and am I defeated by such ghostly tricks?"
"But everyone is like this, am I going to go back thousands of miles in vain again?"
After thinking about it for several days, I finally gritted my teeth and asked my fellow villagers to borrow 300 taels, and here I am.
(End of chapter)
