When the food and wine were served, Bai Yutian picked up the wine glass and respectfully presented himself to Xue Baotou, accompanied by the shopkeeper Qian Desheng.
Xue Baotou drank the wine, ate two chopsticks of food, put down his chopsticks, and asked Bai Yutian: "Brother Bai, I have something to ask as a brother. I hope you can answer truthfully."
Bai Yutian had already filled the wine glass, and toasted Xue Baotou with Qian Desheng. He said with a smile: "Brother Xue, if you can trust me, just ask. I will tell you everything you know." .”
Xue Captou drank the wine in his glass and said, "You just said that you can help your brother solve the case. I wonder if you just said it casually in a moment of impatience, or if you really have some clues and just follow the clues?"
Bai Yutian filled three wine glasses and replied in a good voice: "I dare to ask Brother Xue, if I can really help you solve this case, I wonder what kind of benefits it can bring to you, Brother Xue, and what kind of benefits it can bring to my brother." What are the disadvantages? Please tell Brother Xue clearly."
Xue Captou raised his wine glass and toasted Bai Yutian and Qian Desheng. He drank the wine in the glass, looked at the two of them seriously, and said openly, "To be honest with you, brother Bai, I have been around a lot in the capital." After ten years of wandering around, I was still a dispensable catcher. If it weren't for Fan Xiwen, Master Fan (Fan Zhongyan) was transferred back to the capital a few years ago for his merits in flood control in Suzhou, and was sentenced to the Imperial Academy, and was soon promoted to a member of the civil service. Wailang, who has the power to know the Kaifeng Mansion, has vigorously rectified the officialdom in the capital and eliminated bad governance. He said that I worked hard without complaining, but I have no merit. I worked a lot and was specially promoted. I am afraid that I am still a little-known little catcher. If you can help I can solve the case of the theft of the jade seal. Even if my brother is not promoted in the future, he will definitely be able to secure his position as chief catcher. As for any harm it will bring to you, I will not thank you for my kindness. There’s no downside.”
Bai Yutian filled the wine glasses for the three of them, stood up and saluted Xue Captou, drank the wine in the glass, and said warmly: "To be honest with Brother Xue, I did see the thief who stole the jade seal last night, and I chased him all the way. If Brother Xue can help me rescue those friends in the prison, or tell me who I should find to rescue my friends, I am willing to assist Brother Xue in recovering the jade seal, so that Brother Xue can accomplish this great feat."
Xue Captou stood up holding the wine glass: "Brother Bai, are you serious about this?"
Bai Yutian cupped his hands and said, "If there is even half a lie, I will be struck by five thunders."
Xue Captou drank the wine in the glass and said with a smile: "Sit down, brother Bai. After you have eaten this meal, follow me to meet Mr. Fu Yin."
The two sat down, and the three of them drank happily. Soon they became like good friends, talking freely, and the wine was mellow and the food was fragrant.
After drinking and eating, the three of them went downstairs. Bai Yutian went to the counter to pay the bill and came out of the restaurant. He said goodbye to Qian Desheng, the owner of the restaurant, and followed Xue Baotou to Kaifeng Mansion to meet Mr. Fu Yin.
After entering the government office, Lord Fu Yin met Bai Yutian in his lounge because of Xue Baotou's kindness.
Bai Yutian quickly stepped forward, bowed and worshiped: "Bai Yutian, a common man, pays homage to your lord, may your lord be blessed and safe."
Master Fu Yin saw that Bai Yutian was really extraordinary in appearance and must have a good background, so he said softly: "Get up and talk."
Bai Yutian stood up, bowed and said, "Thank you, sir!"
Mr. Fu Yin said: "I heard from Xue Captou that those people from the Longwei Escort Agency are your friends?"
Bai Yutian replied: "Replying to my lord, I am not only a friend, but also a life and death acquaintance."
Lord Fu Yin asked softly: "Are you coming here to rescue them, or do you want to confirm their crimes?"
Bai Yutian replied: "If your Excellency thinks they are innocent, the common people are willing to assist Xue Captou in recovering the stolen jade seal. I hope that Your Majesty will take care of the 'honest and upright' plaque in the government office lobby and treat them innocently." If you don't have the right to acquit them, I hope you can tell the people who want to kill them. As the saying goes, even if you can't save their lives, you will know who to turn to in the future. Revenge for peace of mind.”
Mr. Fu Yin stood up and shouted angrily: "You are a bold and unruly man. You and the thieves stole the jade seal. You have committed a heinous crime. You dare to speak nonsense in front of me. I really think that there are no warriors in the government, so I can't take you down."
Bai Yutian sneered and said: "Sir, although the common people are of low origin, they still have integrity and never steal, commit adultery, or plunder. If you want to add to the crime, the common people will still cry out and fight to the end as long as they are alive. Don't Speaking of Kaifeng Mansion, it is the palace, so what do ordinary people have to fear!"
Master Fu Yin said: "Xue Captou, what are you doing standing still and not taking it down?"
Xue Captou bowed and said: "Sir, you have always been diligent and caring for the people. It would be unworthy if your reputation was tarnished by one or two angry words. Mr. Bai was in jail just because of dozens of his friends and saved others. I am eager, but I am confused for a moment and my words are not clear. The most important thing at the moment is to recover the stolen jade seal and dispel His Majesty's thunderous anger. Please calm down your anger and let Mr. Bai assist the government in recovering the jade seal, so that the merits will be redeemed. "As soon as he finished speaking, he glanced at Bai Yutian.
Bai Yutian accepted it, bowed and apologized and said: "The common people made a mistake in their words, which is extremely inappropriate. I hope you will forgive Wang Han."
Lord Fu Yin thought that his official power was not as important as recovering the jade seal, so he paused his thunderous anger, walked down the steps, sat back on the big chair, and said softly: "Sage, I have ten days to recover the jade seal, do you have the chance?" grasp?"
Bai Yutian bowed and said: "Sir, the common people tell the truth and are sure to recover the jade seal. But..."
Xue Captou said from the side: "Mr. Bai, when you deal with others, you have always been... worthy of the emperor, and worthy of the common people below. You are honest and upright. If you have something to say, don't hesitate."
Master Fu Yin said: "But what? Get up and talk."
Bai Yutian bowed to the ground: "Sir, who wants to harm the Longwei Escort Bureau, and who can save the lives of the people in the Longwei Escort Bureau? Please make it clear, the common people will be grateful."
Mr. Fu Yin was shocked and lost his voice: "How do you know that someone wants to harm the lives of everyone in the Longwei Escort Bureau?"
Bai Yutian said: "Reporting to your lord, the Quzhou Prefecture dared to let the Longwei Escort Bureau escort the official silver to Beijing. Such a reputation can only be held by thieves. Furthermore, stealing jade seals is of no use to the Longwei Escort Bureau. Sir There was no physical evidence and no witnesses, but they arrested all the people from the Longwei Escort Bureau without thinking. The person who came to make false accusations must have a strong backing, and as the governor of Kaifeng Prefecture, I can't afford to offend him."
Seeing Mr. Fu Yin looking at him, Xue Baotou hurriedly said: "Sir, this is not what I said. It was Mr. Bai who had doubts in his heart and imagined it out of thin air. Just because Longwei Escort escorted Guan Yin to Beijing, there were many people along the way. Jie Dao, the size of the lineup is astonishing."
"Get up and speak." Mr. Fu Yin saw that it was not appropriate for a sensible person to be fooled, so he whispered: "Three spoken words superimposed, what does it mean?"
Bai Yutian stood up and replied: "It's a word of quality."
Master Fu Yin then asked: "What about the superposition of two spoken words?"
Bai Yutian said: "It's the character Lu."
Master Fu Yin said softly: "The conflict between Chu and Han is like a river. Just take care of yourself."
Bai Yutian bowed and said, "Thank you, sir!" Then he asked, "Sir, I wonder who Mr. Lu is?"
Mr. Fu Yin said: "Xiang Lu, whose courtesy name is Tanfu, is from Shouzhou, Huainan County. His ancestral home is Laizhou, Jingdong Road. He is the nephew of the crown prince Taishi Lu Mengzheng and the son of Lu Mengheng, the prime minister of Dali Temple. In the third year of Xianping, he passed the Jinshi title and started his family in Jiangzhou. He was promoted to military official, and later moved to Kaifeng Prefecture as a doctor in the Ministry of Justice. When the Holy Emperor ascended the throne, he was given the right to advise the officials, give advice to the ministers, and participate in political affairs. In the sixth year of Tiansheng, he worshiped Tongping Zhangshi and the bachelor of Jixian Palace, and became the prime minister. In the second year of Mingdao, he was dismissed from the prime minister because of the words to abolish Queen Guo, and was soon reinstated. In the second year of Jingyou, he moved to Youpushe and was granted the title of Duke Shen. In the fourth year of Jingyou, he was dismissed from the prime minister because he had a dispute with King Zuopshe. Kangding In the first year, I pay my respects to the prime minister again."
Bai Yutian didn't know anything about political affairs, and Lord Fu Yin spoke very quickly, as if it went in one ear and out the other, leaving nothing behind at all. He then asked: "What kind of person is Prime Minister Lu? What achievements have he made?"
Mr. Fu Yin said: "Since the establishment of the Queen Mother, the Queen Mother has been in the imperial court for more than ten years. She has been indisputable both internally and externally, and the world has been governed by Yan Ran. Prime Minister Lu has made most of his contributions. In the northwest, Yuan Hao rebelled, and there was no army in all directions for a long time. The divisions suffered numerous defeats, so we chose a minister who was famous for a while. , the strategy of the Western Xia Dynasty relied heavily on the plan of Prime Minister Lu. Lu Xiang was the longest-serving leader of the country. Although he was slandered by many commentators, the emperor's family depended on him. However, the people he denounced were reinstated, and they were not finally abolished. He was in the world. To do things, bend, stretch and relax, there are skills in movement."
Bai Yutian asked: "Sir, such a person can be said to be a good person! How can you be afraid of him?"
Mr. Fu Yin smiled slightly and said in a low voice: "How can we be afraid of this? Prime Minister Lu is very clever and adaptable."
Bai Yutian asked: "How can you see it?"
Lord Fu Yin said: "During the Jingyou period, Li Zhidong and Lu Tanfu were both prime ministers. Li Xiang used to plan things, but Lu Xiang felt that he was inferior to him. Someone said to Lu Xiang: 'Li Zhidong thinks about things better than his father. .' Prime Minister Lu told Prime Minister Li: 'Young Master Zhidong's talent can be used to advantage.' Then he reported to the emperor that he ordered Li Zhidong to punish Liang Zhejiang. Li Xiang and his son were very happy. After Li Zhidong took office, he could not remind his father Li Zhidong of anything. Prime Minister, Prime Minister Li was old and forgetful, and his plans always went wrong, so he was dismissed from the post of prime minister. Only then did Prime Minister Li realize that he had fallen into Prime Minister Lu's scheme."
Bai Yutian heard this, and his good mood suddenly plummeted, with a bitter look on his face. I thought: "How will I face such a person?"
Mr. Fu Yin must have noticed Bai Yutian's thoughts and said softly: "Mr. Bai, in front of such a person, those who obey will prosper, and those who go against will perish. You have to think carefully."
Bai Yutian thanked him and said, "Thank you for the reminder, sir! I'll take my leave."
Master Fu Yin said: "Master Bai must not forget about the jade seal."
Bai Yutian bowed his head again and said: "Don't worry, sir. Dozens of friends from the common people are visiting Kaifeng Mansion. How dare the common people forget each other."
Lord Fu Yin heard this and felt that it was reasonable, so he asked Xue Baotou to send Bai Yutian out of the government office.
[Kaifeng Mansion is the administrative and judicial office of Kyoto officials in the Northern Song Dynasty. It is known as the capital of the world. According to historical records, the Northern Song Dynasty went through 9 emperors from the first year of Jianlong of Taizu (960) to the second year of Jingkang of Qinzong (1127), which lasted for 167 years, and a total of 183 people served as governors of Kaifeng Prefecture. Not enough to watch the lanterns. 】
