Chapter 105 Selling Officials

Huangnan County governor Song Yan’s mansion is empty and sparse, few servants, cold and quiet, in fact, this mansion is Huangnan County, one of the most luxurious high houses, with Lord Song’s family wealth, originally could not move in, not to mention buying, or even renting is also difficult, but due to the fact that no one dares to take over the murderous mansion, it fell into the hands of the two-sleeved Lord Song, the previous head of the family is a veteran general from the border who wants to enjoy his grandchildren, was the left arm of General Yan Wenluan Yan, belongs to the young meritorious generals can drink wine with the King of Northern Liang. Yan Wenluan Yan general’s right arm, belonging to the young can drink with the king of Beiliang the meritorious generals, I do not know why in a windy and snowy night, the house of more than seventy people were killed overnight, regardless of the women and children, old and young, are to a person cut off the head, a horrible and cruel, is still a big case in the Beiliang Road, some say that it is the Greenwood bandits did, but also said that it is still serving in the Beiliang border The political opponents of the army, no matter what, rumor has it that every snowy night there will be a woman ghosts crying and sobbing sound of the mansion vacant for many years, and then do not believe in ghosts and gods of the Song Yan became the Huangnan County officials, did not do what the land and water dojo also did not open the altar to set up the Jiaojiao, moved into the house with his family, these years are also peaceful.

Although Song Yan respected magic potential, but there is a yellow old dipping alias, vegetable root Taoist, the county governor’s wife died early, leaving a now to be in the boudoir of the only daughter, called Song Huangmei, in the Huangnan County territory of the horse, satchel knife and bow, extremely valiant, no less than the Northern Liang Ranger children, when Song Yan noticed to the rouge has been coated rouge as the world’s top vice daughter began to ask him for some silver money, not to purchase a bow and arrow, but Stealing to buy a lot of rouge and water powder, several times in the house bumped into, the daughter’s face are not wiped clean, Song Yan know that this girl has a sweetheart, Song Yan is also happy to see it, never uncovered the daughter of the crappy cover up over and over again, the governor of the residence of the book building adjacent to the garden, Song Yan held a volume of books quietly stood in the window, the garden daughter and the two like sisters of the maids laughter, voice exceptionally crisp, people close to middle-aged sideburns slightly frosty Song Yan smiled slightly, the daughter intentionally this loud speech, is not in order to let the young man standing outside the wall has to have half an hour to hear?

Song Yan let someone probe the young student’s family background, from the bottom of the city, blood, rely on the dependence of the Huangnan County, a not up and down the clan, a few gang fights rely on life-threatening fight, became a clan big brother’s direct disciple, many years of humane experience in the world sharpening, treating people, compared to those who are higher than those of the Huangnan County eye above the top of the anointed children to be much higher, Song Yan an idle intentionally and unintentionally micro-obligate visit! Song Yan a leisure time, intentionally or unintentionally, a private visit, and this student at the same table to drink tea, casually chatted a few words, the young man is less amazing words, talk about simple, nature is not bad, for him and his daughter’s feelings, Song Yan also silently step back, listen to it, Song Yan itself is not a scholarly family, but also from a poor and poor alleys, so I know that it is not easy to get ahead of the cold descendants, but if this person is a reader, even if the merit of the hopeless, Song Yan has also long been invited into the Mansion, recognized the relationship between son-in-law, but a knife licking blood gang children, Song Yan heart and not optimistic, at most not against, want him to this Huangnan County governor initiative to show good, that is also too difficult for Song Yan.

Song Yan saw his daughter sneaking towards the courtyard wall, not forgetting to look around, apparently too thin-skinned, for fear of being caught by the father, and very clear that her father’s ability to see the subtle knowledge of the famous, not good to fool the past, Song Yan only had to return from the window to the bookshelf near the window with a bitter smile, Song Yan the legal writings of the book “five moth-eaten books” back to the bookshelf original position, sitting back to the paperwork such as mountains of the book, the case of the bronze incense burner, used as incense to refresh the mind, Song Yan Glancing at the two secret letters that had been sent from the residence of the Secretary General in succession, his face was expressionless, stretching out his fingers to stroke the taotie pattern on the bronze vessel that signified the repelling of ghosts, Song Yan closed his eyes to feel the burning heat of his fingertips, and slowly retracted his hand. He for his teacher Li Gongde in the letter of advice, do not think, on the contrary, this time the Huangnan County, is the harbinger of Song Yan self-employment, to the Li family as a dog under the door, with Li Gongde high in the second grade, Song Yan follow the rising tide, but the fourth grade of the guardian is already the ultimate, now the North Rang has a change of dynasty meteorological, Song Yan knows that the King of the North Rang side of the impression is very poor, at this time, if you don’t do anything, after A dozen or two decades is still no way in the official field further, a step late step late, is in the prime of life and ambitious Song Yan do not want to eat some leftovers with others in the back of the ass, but now Song Yan is not sure that the Lingshou general has no tolerance for people’s belly, there is no personally come to see him this piece of the official field thatched pit hard stinking stone of the courage.

In Song Yan contemplation, the building outside the garden came from the daughter’s shout, Song Yan helplessly stood up, this daughter, not half a woman virtuous, how to marry a good family in the future, Song Yan did not answer the voice, walked down the stairs, detouring from the back door of the garden to walk in and see the teacher’s daughter Li Negative true even rushed to the Huangnan County, surrounded by an unfamiliar face to Song Yan’s old-fashioned experience, and immediately guessed the identity of Li Negative true favorite of the cold tribe, the man Guo Fu Feng. The man that Li Negative Zhen is interested in, Guo Fufeng. Song Yan on this person does not have too much good or bad perception, see his daughter Song Huang Mei on this man to make hard to measure, Song Yan made a wink, Guo Fufeng is at ease, on the Song Taishou respect deeply made a bow, Song Yan nodded and smiled, also did not make a sound, really not warm and polite, even if this person later became the son-in-law of the lord of the Secretary General, Song Yan is not too optimistic, not to mention that in the capacity of Song Yan, even if Guo Fufeng In the future, even if Guo Fufeng step by step, want to stand shoulder to shoulder with him Song Yan, less to say more than twenty years of hard work. Li Negative really holding her a few years younger Song Huang Mei, but the look of nervousness, this is the first time she took Guo Fufeng appeared in front of his father’s disciples, others can say, perhaps will sell her by making the daughter of a little bit of face, Song Yan in the Li Department of the disciples of the old officials in the original to the not close to the known, is afraid of the Lord of the Imperial Guard direct face on the expulsion order, this time rushed to the Huangnan County will be Uncle Song, is the father of the Commission has no way out, I do not know how Guo Fufeng Got the gossip, and she rubbed half a day, said a lot of heartfelt good intentions, Li Negative really this hesitant to bring him together to come to the Song House, she and Song Huang Mei played small relationship is good, has always been the girl as a sister, Song doting daughter, the world is aware of, and this girl and a world than Guo Fufeng worse than the relationship between the children of the jianghu obscure, which is also Li Negative really dare to boldly let Guo Fufeng formally in the Lingshou officialdom “water falls out of the stone” of the key, just think of it, Li Negative really have nowhere to talk about the unspeakable sadness, when she also have to be so intentional to go? However, see Uncle Song although the expression of calm, but the least on Guo Fufeng did not speak ill of, Li Negative really a little peace of mind for a few minutes, heartless Song Huangmei do not know why the sky is not afraid of the Li sister how the palms of the sweat, a line of people to the house to sit around the stove, Song Huangmei excused himself to go to shovel some charcoal back to the fire, a smoke trotting out of the house, Song Yan where I do not know that she is to give the groom to say goodbye, and do not have to make some! Stacked chairs standing wall movement, women are not in the middle, poor parents ah.

Song Yan received a few steward to send the name of the sticker, are Huangnan County scholar late students to teach the world to help the people’s learning, in fact, but is to pay a visit to him as a governor in order to mix a familiar face, Song Yan let the steward to hand back the door, but also incidentally gave back a few books building collection, those who were not able to see the above, but is also considered to be the pleasure of coming to the pleasure of coming back, no wonder to brag about with their peers. Song Yan casually dealt with this pile of small matters, looked to Li Negative true laughed: “Uncle Song’s salary are taken to buy books, the family can not open the pot, want to this side of the big fish and meat can be difficult.”

Li Negative Zhen traditionally not good at socializing, just show a smile. Guo Fufeng is not willing to be a companion, took the initiative to open his mouth and said: “Collectors throughout the ages have loved books as if their lives depended on it, and believe that borrowing books is like borrowing a wife, it would be better to give books to people directly, just like a gentleman who gives a beautiful concubine, which is rumored to be a beautiful story. Mr. Taishou understands it well.”

Song Yan look indifferent to ignore, did not agree. Guo Fufeng also thick skin, completely unaware of the cold scene. Only slightly relieved Li Negative real and some fidgety, afraid that Guo Fufeng do not know the rules of the official taboo, annoyed the temperament of the light Song Yan. Good in Song Huangmei timely pot of black charcoal, invisible help her to solve the problem, Song Huangmei in their own home speech without fear, frowned: “Father, Tieya just told me that the street outside the wall came a few outsiders, resistant to not go for some time, what to do in the winter in the empty alleyway, is not an outlaw?”

Song Yan laughed softly: “the road towards the sky, dad even if it is the governor, but also can not control the pedestrian legs and feet, some people are happy to freeze outside the wall, even if they stayed on for a few hours, dad can not take the head of the official hat to force to drive people.”

Song Huang Mei smacked out the flavor of the father’s words, face suddenly red, lowered his head to fiddle with the charcoal.

Mansion steward stood in the doorway, some panic, Song Yan got up and walked to the outside of the house, after hearing the news did not move, turned to Li Negative true said some urgent business, then let Song Huang Mei help to greet the guests. Waiting for the Imperial Guardian to leave in a hurry, his footsteps gradually disappearing, Guo Fufeng lowered his head and stretched out his hand to roast the charcoal fire, his face a little hazy. Raising his head to see Li Negative Zhen and the daughter of the governor’s two beautiful faces, each with their own beauty, whispering and speaking intimate boudoir secrets, Guo Fufeng also quickly transformed into a smiling and warm face, without being displeased because of the county governor’s slowness. Li Negative True and Song Huang Mei finished the women’s whispers, then began to want to speak, out of the corner of his eye glanced at Guo Fufeng’s eyes that could not be refused, then said: ”Huang Mei, do you know that there are a number of unseemly obscene rituals in Huangnan County, which were stabbed by people to my father, saying that instead of banning them, Uncle Song allowed them to flourish with incense, and that these shrines are actually being manipulated by people in secret to become a a means of enrichment, there is a suspicion of hurting the public morals, I came here this trip to inform Uncle Song.”

Song Huang Mei gave a surprised ah, then narrowed his eyes and laughed: “What hurt the customs, anyway, we are like this in Beiliang, what customs are good to be corrupted, and even if it is bad, it can’t be bad, I think those bastards who deliberately defame and vilify my father are just fed up. Either afraid of my father’s position is too solid, my father does not move the nest, they can not climb up Well, promotion and wealth, not promotion where the wealth, in the end, is the silver to make a mess. I heard at the restaurant that several counties in Lingshou are pointing the finger at the general of Lingshou, deliberately muddying the water, only our Huangnan County is peaceful, and my father has become a target.”

Li Negative Zhen mouth corners spread bitter smile, Guo Fufeng looked at this girl, some surprise.

Song Huangmei intentionally or unintentionally squinted at the elegant Guo Fufeng, said to Li Negative truth: “Sister, brother Hanlin is really great now, the success of the lawlessness, have become the border upstream crossbowmen of the standard, I heard that killed hundreds of Northern Mang barbarians, the horseback can not hang the head. Hanlin brother home this year for the New Year, if back, must remember to invite him to my home guests, I have to tell brother Hanlin about my heart gushing admiration. Men, not just have to go to the sand field to kill the enemy with brother Hanlin like this, otherwise it is not a man.”

Hearing these few side comments, Guo Fufeng laughed coldly in his heart, but his face remained calm.

Li Negative Zhen carefully looked at Guo Fufeng, turned his head and smiled a far-fetched smile and said, “Let’s go out and take a look around.”

Guo Fufeng naturally stayed behind. After the sisters went out, Li Negative Zhen reached out and twisted Song Huang Mei’s ear, “Dead girl, you dare to lecture your sister? Previously not to you in the letter clearly written, do not give him a bad face, you good!”

Song Huangmei said: “Anyway, I do not like that person at first glance, my father said that the readers can not have too much slave bone acid gas, such readers do not have much success, I see that the surname Guo’s two faults are not lacking, sister, you listen to me back, you refused to us that the northern Liang mongoloid, how much to relieve the feat, how to get to the end more and more unhelpful, ah, if I had known that it is If I had known it was like this, I would have been better off with Xu’s colorful man, and when I became the side consort of the feudal king, our Lord Secretary would have been laughing from the corner of his mouth to the back of his head. Besides, Hanlin brother can return to the prodigal son, maybe that surnamed Xu one day can also wake up, really go to the border to kill the enemy …… Of course, I think that the unscrupulous guy’s temperament, want him to go to the brother with Hanlin like hands to kill people, it is difficult as the sky, only dare to bully bully the woman. I really don’t know those people who give him a good word at the moment, in the end in the end what is in the mind, what the North Liang old pawns respectfully sent into the capital ah, what went to break the North Mang trip ah, what in the Liyang Jianghu set off a bloody storm ah, who believes ah ……”

Li Negative true vigorously knocked the chattering Song Huang Mei forehead, annoyed glare: “Do not speak no one take you as a mute.”

The two walked to the corner, saw a line of people walking quietly in the distance on the mansion green stone path, in addition to the governor Song Yan dressed in public clothes without a sword, the rest of the several men mostly waist hanging an eye-catching Northern Liang knife, adding a few points of winter killing atmosphere.

The favorite hilarious Song Huang Mei hurriedly pulled Li Negative true cuffs, tsk, tsk wondered: “Yo Yo Yo, this hair gray full of murderous handsome brother who is ah, negative true sister you see, my father how proud of a person, walking even than he was a shoulder distance, no, I have to find a reason to go to pay a visit to this hero!”

Li Negative true complex expression, obscure and difficult to understand.

Song Huang Mei in the end there is some righteousness, did not leave behind her negative true sister alone, she and the ordinary girl different, from childhood is obsessed with dancing guns and sticks, in order to be able to privately hide a Beiliang knife, with her father read a number of years, Song Yan finally had to promise to get a hand in her marriage, because Beiliang has an iron law, as long as the withdrawal of the military, even if it is the generals may not be privately wear Beiliang knife, even if it is granted a hand, also may not be carried out, of course, to comply with the law not to be carried out, but to be able to carry a hand. May not be carried out, of course, to comply with is another matter, many Northern Liang dude to wear a cool knife as a matter of honor, as long as it is not uncovered not to be bumped into, most likely nothing will happen. But private knife and openly satchel knife, a world of difference, Beiliang in office civil officials, so far no one is qualified to wear the Beiliang knife, this is like in the capital to wear a sword on the temple of the honor. Song Huang Mei even if you are the daughter of the governor, to those who rely on their own ability to wear a Northern Liang knife armor, is still from the bottom of the heart admiration, she now like the gang son, but also with her swore to say that in the future before marrying her, will be wearing the Northern Liang knife with the old man on the door to ask for marriage.

Song Yan led these several uninvited guests into the back room of the council chamber, waved off the subordinates, personally pouring tea and water, the courtesy is very sufficient, but between the color of his face is still not half a bit of fear.

Even if the young man sitting in front of him is His Royal Highness the Prince of Northern Liang, the newly emerged General of Lingzhou.

Xu Fengnian took the cup of tea, calmly said: “When the North Mang Jianghu in the spider’s web Li Mi Pi authorized to infiltrate the North Liang, picking soft persimmons of the civil officials to kill, in order to disrupt the foundation of the North Liang, the result is not yet inbound on the border was intercepted and killed in pieces, but there are still some fish that escaped the net, managed to mix with the two states of the Youliang, at that time in order to pacify the people’s hearts, many of the unprovoked woes have been covered down, the Lingshu state is relatively better, but there are still some fish, successfully mixed into the two states of the Youliang. Lingshou is relatively better, but still happened in this mansion tragedy, these years Beiliang spies, most of them are staring at the North Mang dead soldiers this piece, every other day there is a seemingly inexplicable bloodshed, just the people do not know it.”

Song Yan laughed: “Last year, Huangnan County has a murder case, alarmed the other counties, a E guard cavalry cross-border kill, will be a gang uprooted, almost all the family beheaded, at that time, this official does not know which hidden secrets, almost to personally ride to intercept, and that lieutenant to ask for punishment, and later is the spies under the command of General Chu to give this official to deliver a sentence of the military order, this official this is only to know which is dangerous. ”

Xu Fenian said, “Huangnan County is known as Jiangnan outside the plug, it is where the grain silo of Northern Liang is located, Lord Song, as our picker of grain in Lingshou, I think the burden on his shoulders is very heavy ah.”

Song Yan replied in a flat tone, “This official’s duty.”

Xu Fengyen smiled coldly and let out a cry, “It is also the county governor’s duty to prohibit inappropriate rituals of all sizes in the county, and Lord Song has always been praised for his swiftness in Lingshou, so how could he be negligent in his duties? The three human and ghost shrines and temples in Huangnan County are dedicated to neither Northern Liang’s heroic souls nor the imperial court’s deities, which is clearly against the rules of etiquette, but one of the pillars is still in Lord Song’s handwriting, so could it be that Lord Song is knowingly violating the law by virtue of having the protection of the Minister of Economy and Strategy? I heard that Lord Song has a penchant for collecting books, and has newly searched for more than sixty books with high prices, I wonder how much incense has been given to Lord Song at the end of this year for that unruly shrine?”

Song Yan drank a mouthful of tea and said, “Five hundred taels only, it is not worth mentioning, a number of coveted favorite good books, have not been able to get into the bag, cited as a regret.”

Xu Fengyen laughed: “The jurisdiction of obscene rituals are widespread, more than three hundred taels of corruption, two crimes are punished together, can be the death penalty of losing one’s head, Lord Song is so thinking of using his own head, to help this Shizi to establish his majesty in Lingshou?”

Song Yan is worthy of being the stinky and hard stone in the thatched pit of Lingshou, he even laughed and said, “Since Your Highness has brought a sword to the door, Song Yan has also confessed to the crime, that’s just a matter of a sword.”

Xu Fengnian put down his teacup, “You and I know each other well, you disobeyed Lord Jingliu’s wishes this time, and have the intention to surface in the officialdom of Lingzhou, so that I can take note of you, the guy who once annoyed Xu Snapdragon. You have encountered the bottleneck of being an official, and want to change your family so that you can move up to a higher level, I also have enemies on all sides in Lingzhou, and I am in need of someone to break the deadlock, so I need you to be the governor of Huangnan County, who is not a small official and has some reputation, as long as you are willing to ‘rise up’ in Huangnan County, so that outsiders will mistakenly believe that it’s the Secretary General that has made up his mind to bow down to the general of Lingzhou. The general bowed, then a lot of Xu official will be interested in convergence of small actions, after all, really want to be autumn accounts, the idea of the masters of the hands and feet clean, hands to do the dirty work they are not guaranteed to have to eat a pocket to go, although the law is not responsible for the masses, but to make an example of who will not be, there are always a few chickens that are not good luck to be carried out, a group of tricky and oily knife and pen small officials in fact, the bottom of the heart is also afraid of. Song Yan, do you think that I lack your Huangnan County will be stuck in a muddy pond, and even if I get to shore, I will still be covered in mud, and I can only run to Liangzhou to complain to Xu Snapdragon in ashes.”

Song Yan shook his head and said, “Your Highness does not lack the means to break the situation, it is the lack of time. After all, your highness even if you kill a mess, but also can kill a mouth to convince the heart, and then wait until the military heart one by one in place, plus some of the Lingzhou local officials and foreign scholars of the mutual checks and balances, the urgent fire plus the fire, Lingzhou officialdom will slowly be tamed. But it seems that His Highness does not have this kind of ruthlessness and determination for the time being, nor can he afford to wait. This point, after Your Highness personally came to Huangnan County to look for me, Song Yan became even more certain.”

Seeing that Xu Fenian did not speak, Song Yan continued slowly, “If I become the Assassin of Lingzhou, I can not only serve as a pawn for Your Highness to sweep away the dirt, but I can also pacify Lord Jingliu in the open, both sides have a step to step down, and secretly weaken Lord Li’s control in Lingzhou …….”

Xu Fengyen smiled as he intended the county governor lord’s words, “Taishou lord overestimated himself, the assassin of Lingshou can only be Xu Beihao, not you Song Yan, you can at most be a Lingshou Buyei. However, this son can tell you an open word, in the future, one day Xu Beihao became the North Liang Road, you hope to serve as the assassin of Lingshou, but that’s still early, you have to wait, because the North Liang will not go to move the merits of Li, Xu Li two families, accumulated two generations of people’s fire, not to mention Li’s hard work, just based on my friendship with Li Hanlin, is enough to let the Lord of the Secretary to the addiction of the official, and unloaded to kill the donkey. I don’t want to do anything that’s unethical, but I don’t want to do anything that’s unethical. Of course, if you Song Yan is really capable, with Xu Beihao in front of you, Lingshou assassin can not be, but there are still two assassins seat to let this son discretion. Let’s not talk about Xu Beihao, he’s an anomaly, how many of them are under 40 years old? Lord Song, just be content.”

Song Yan’s face was cloudy.

Xu Fengyen ended up coming with a remark that made Song Yan cry and laugh, “Also, there are a lot of official greaseballs who want to be promoted to Lingshu Farewell, if you Song Yan want to be, you have to send me half of the building’s book collection, many scholars arrived in Beilang, so that I can use it to buy people’s hearts.”

Not waiting for Lord Taishou to nod his head, Xu Fengyen stood up and muttered to himself, “Damn, no wonder so many people want to be the emperor, doing the deed of selling officials and selling titles can be so justified.”