Fenghou

Chao Qing took over the letter, only the thick letter had five or six thousand characters, but on it was pasted a piece of plain paper full of words, the handwriting was very beautiful, it was a woman's handwriting, and there were more than a dozen drafts on it. Notes on key points, up to [-] words.

"Let me tell you, there are dozens of such documents every day, and the Xuanfu envoy will not read the content of the documents. He does not have so much time and energy to read them carefully. He only reads the main points written in front, and then makes instructions based on the main points. , do you understand what I mean?"

Chao Qing suddenly realized, "I understand!"

"This is the matter of judging the affairs, refining the content of each letter, grasping the main points, drafting an outline, and then pasting it on the letter and handing it over to the Xuanfu envoy. Of course, you are not the only one who judges the affairs, join you There are five people, and another old commentator and I will make a Class A letter, here is the mark!"

Zhang Xuan pointed to the lower right corner of the letter, and saw the word 'Class A' written on the lower right corner. He continued: "You and the other two are doing the letter of Class B, which is less important."

"Humble job understands!"

Zhang Xuan said with a smile: "This ultimatum is for your reference. Finally, I will remind you of two things. First, do more and talk less; second, try not to go to private invitations from colleagues. Let's get together tonight to welcome the three newcomers."

Only then did Chao Qing know that there were three newcomers to the secretariat this time.

……

Chao Qing got his own seat, just outside Zhang Xuan's official room, and sitting next to him was a more experienced officer named Yang Qi, in his early 30s, who was also in charge of Class B documents.

And sitting in front of him was a 50-year-old old judge, short and thin, with a pair of triangular eyes, and his gaze was very sharp. Just now Zhang Xuan introduced that his name was Bai Ziling, from Jingzhao, and he was born in Tokyo Taixue. A county magistrate for more than 20 years, in charge of Class A documents.

Yang Qi handed him a document and said with a smile, "You do this first!"

Chao Qing looked at it, and there was "Deshun Prefecture Shaoxing Five-Year Annual Report" written on the surface, and the word "Class B" was written in the lower right corner. It was a very thick document with at least seven or eight thousand words.

Yang Qi pointed to the notes on his reference letter with a pen, and whispered: "Remember, you have to write horizontally, this is the habit of Xuanfu envoys!"

"Brother Yang, who wrote this? Why is it a woman's handwriting?" Chao Qing finally couldn't help asking.

Yang Qi chuckled, "You can't say it now, but you will know later."

Chao Qing suddenly remembered something. Just now Zhang Xuan said that they have three judges in Class B. Why are there only two of them, Yang Qi and himself?

He looked back, the table and chairs behind him were empty, Yang Qi smiled and said: "There is another new judge who is just like you, this year's Jinshi of the new department, hey, here he is!"

Chao Qing turned his head to look, and saw Zhang Xuan walking into the lobby quickly with a Jinshi. Chao Qing was stunned. This newcomer turned out to be Wei Ji, No. 1 in the imperial examination.

Chapter 641 Asking Price

Lin Jianqing was pushed hard against the partition wall. Li Toutuo rushed up like an angry leopard, grabbed his skirt, stared into his eyes and asked fiercely, "Say, why don't you go?"

Lin Jianqing only felt that his bones seemed to be knocked apart, and a great fear shrouded his heart. He lowered his head and said timidly: "I feel... a little uncomfortable."

"fart!"

Li Toutuo scolded angrily: "You are timid, you are scared, aren't you?"

Lin Jianqing's face flushed immediately, and the anger after being humiliated went straight to his forehead. He broke free from Li Toutuo's hand, sat down at the table, and slammed his fist on the table.

"That's right! I'm afraid, I don't know anything at all, I... I can't even memorize "Mencius", what if the truth is revealed?"

Seeing that he was trembling with fear, Li Toutuo restrained his inner anger and said to Lin Jianqing: "There is no scripture test in the imperial examination this time. Will "Mencius" not affect your admission at all? Besides, Xuanfu envoy Many clerks and workers in the government office are former students of state studies in Qinzhou and Longzhou, so what can they do, how difficult is it?"

"I don't like to go to the government office to do things. I have to deal with documents all day long. I want to be a county magistrate, just like an emperor in the county."

Li Toutuo's anger was ignited again, and he cursed: "You idiot, I spent so much money and tried every means to praise you, so you were selected by the military department, and you flinched at the last moment, I am blind Eye."

"You don't know at all. I have studied in Jingzhao Mansion School. There are too many people who know my details. Hundreds of my classmates and professors of the mansion school don't know that Lin Jianqing is an ignorant bastard. Every time I took the exam, I was at the bottom of the exam, and I dropped out of school when I couldn't pass the exam, and now I am admitted to the imperial examination, isn't it a big joke in the world, if anyone reports me, I will be doomed!"

Li Toutuo looked at him looking like a broken jar, and secretly regretted in his heart, did he make a mistake in finding such a dou who couldn't help him?

But thinking that this person is Chen Qing's brother-in-law, Li Toutuo still thinks that he has a certain value.

"Don't worry, think about it, it's been five days since the list was released! No one has complained about you, why? Because everyone is not a fool, you are Chen Qing's brother-in-law, isn't it just a formality for you to take the imperial examination?" ? Everyone knows this, so no one will report you and make yourself miserable."

"Is that true?" Lin Jianqing was dubious.

"Of course that's the case, then you said why no one reported you?"

Lin Jianqing calmed down slowly, as if this was the case?If it was in the past, his classmates would have reported him long ago, but there has been no movement in the imperial examination so far, and they can only explain the reason for his special status, and everyone is too lazy to report himself.

"But... I don't like to do paperwork. I still want to be an official in a local area."

Li Toutuo clenched his fists, and then slowly loosened them. He held back his anger and said, "You can't be a county magistrate even if you go to other places now. At most, you can be the governor of Bohe county, but you will be in the Xuanfu envoy's office for two years before you go down." , then you have a chance to be the county magistrate, and I will pay to run it for you, so that you will be the county magistrate in two years' time."

Two years is not a long time, Lin Jianqing thought about it and agreed, "Okay! We have agreed that I will work in the military department for two years at most."

……

Wanyan Xiyin walked for three days in Guanzhong, and finally arrived at Jingzhao City. Sima Zhang Xiao was in charge of receiving him. This time, Zhang Xiao also bargained for Chen Qing and Wanyan Xiyin on behalf of Chen Qing.

As soon as Wanyan Xiyin moved in, he proposed to meet Wanyan Helisa and Wanyan Qi, and also to take a look at the more than 2 Jurchen prisoners of war who were captured. alive, then the negotiation is meaningless.

Zhang Xiao agreed to all these conditions, and even sent someone to accompany Wanyan Xiyin to the prison city of Jingzhao Mansion.

There are two prisons in Jingzhao City, one is the prison city of Chang’an County, which mainly detains ordinary criminals, and the other is the prison city of Jingzhao Prefecture, which mainly detains important prisoners, such as corrupt officials, enemy spies, and important enemy generals, etc. Wait.

There is also a forbidden courtyard in the prison city of Jingzhao Mansion, which is regarded as a place where prisoners are placed under house arrest. It covers an area of ​​about ten acres. One courtyard is composed of twelve small courtyards, surrounded by high walls, with sharp spikes inserted on the top of the walls, and high whistles. tower.

The twelve small courtyards are places of house arrest. Although they lose their freedom as well, they are much better than the gloomy and moldy cells.

Wanyan Helisa was placed under house arrest in the largest courtyard, covering an area of ​​about one mu, with seven rooms and a large courtyard. There was also a tree in the courtyard, and two other Jurchen women served him. He was treated well.

What Wanyan Xiyin is anxious to see is also Wanyan Lisa. The support of Wanyan Lisa's family faction is the key to Wanyanchang's stability as prime minister. I heard that Wanyan Helisa is still alive. Immediately sent Yanxi Yinnan down.

"Have you started the negotiation?" Wanyan asked impatiently as soon as he sat down in the room.

Wanyan Xiyin shook his head, "I just arrived in Jingzhao today. I need to confirm that you and Wanyan Qi are still alive. I also need to go and see the [-] Jurchen soldiers. After confirming all these are correct, we can start negotiating."

"no!"

Wanyan Drinking Lisa punched the table so hard that the tea bowl jumped up and overturned, and a whole table of tea flowed out. Wanyan Xiyin was stunned by the other party's gaffe.

Wanyan Lisa gritted his teeth and said, "I live here like a year, and you still have to visit soldiers and prisoners of war. When will the negotiations be delayed?"

Wanyan Xiyin felt a little disdainful, if he didn't come, wouldn't he be locked up here as well?Once again, the days seem like years, and we have to live on.

He beckoned the woman to clean up the table, and after the woman left, he said slowly: "How about it! Prisoners of war must be seen, but I can ask the deputy envoy Xiao Hongquan to visit and make sure, and I will stay in Jingzhao for negotiations. .”

"You can divide the negotiation into two parts. The prisoner of war is asking for money, but Wanyan Qi and I are not. First redeem Wanyan Qi and me, and then you can slowly negotiate the redemption of the prisoner of war."

"To redeem you and Wanyan Qi, what conditions does Chen Qing want?"

Wanyan Heli suddenly realized that he had slipped his tongue. Isn't this an admission that he had negotiated with Chen Qing?

"How do I know what Chen Qing wants? I just heard him tell the people next to him that it's a pity that important people like us are exchanged for supplies. If you want to change, you can change important people."

After hearing these words, Wanyan Xiyin immediately became vigilant, who would Song Jun want to replace with Ye Lisa and Wanyan Qi?

……

Early the next morning, Zhang Xiao and Wanyan Xiyin held the first redemption negotiation in the expensive hotel. It should be said that the attitudes of both parties are not bad. One is willing to redeem in good faith, and the other expresses that it can be released. The two parties first reached an agreement in a general direction. agreed.

But the key is the redemption conditions. If Jin Guo can meet the price offered by the Western Army, then everything is easy to talk about, but what if it can't?

Zhang Xiao said that the 2 prisoners of war could be redeemed with property. The reason why they were not exchanged for the slaves captured by the Jin State was because there was a big loophole in it. The Jin State could capture a batch of them in Hebei and Central Plains at will. The Han people came to exchange, but none of the Han slaves who were actually in the Kingdom of Jin could be exchanged.

As for the two Jurchen royal families, Wanyan Helisa and Wanyan Xiyin, Zhang Xiao proposed to exchange the two for the former prince Zhao Chen. Zhao Chen was the eldest son of the former emperor Zhao Huan and the son of Song Qinzong. He was taken away by Jin soldiers when he was young, and he is now 20 years old.

Such an important figure, of course Jin Guo would not let him die, he has been imprisoned in the Five Kingdoms City.

However, Wanyan Xiyin flatly refused Song Jun's request without any room for negotiation.

Chapter 642 Expulsion

"What does he mean? There's no room for discussion?" Chen Qing asked sullenly.

Zhang Xiao said helplessly: "He said that other royal families can be exchanged, anyone under the prince can do so, but the crown prince and prince can only talk to the court of the Song Dynasty. The implication is that we are not qualified to talk to him."

Chen Qing was furious. This was obviously humiliating himself. Fortunately, he agreed to negotiate under the pressure of the military generals who opposed the peace talks. Don't blame yourself.

Chen Qing held his hands coldly and said: "Immediately send troops to send them out of the country. If he wants to talk to the imperial court, he invites them to Lin'an. Jingzhao doesn't welcome them."

Chen Qing issued an order to expel the guests, the negotiation was cancelled, and the Jurchen envoy was immediately expelled from the country.

Two thousand soldiers rushed to the Gui Hotel and surrounded it. Zhang Xiao did not show up this time. An official read the expulsion order to Wan Yan Xiyin, asking them to leave Jingzhao City immediately and go the same way.

This sap really caught Yan Xiyin by surprise. He wanted to explain something, but the officials told him clearly that the envoy Xuanfu didn't want to talk about it anymore, and asked them to clean up Jingzhaocheng immediately.

A strong sense of humiliation also annoyed Wanyan Xiyin. The Song Dynasty had always been flattering to them, but today they were expelled by the Song Army, and they were still a local force.

He originally made an appointment to meet the intelligence chief lurking in Sichuan and Shaanxi at night, but now he can't take care of it, and immediately ordered his subordinates to pack up and leave with a livid face.

The news spread quickly, and everyone in Jingzhao clapped their hands and applauded. The negotiator of the Kingdom of Jin was kicked out of Jingzhao City, which was really satisfying.

Thousands of people nearby ran to the expensive hotel and saw a large group of golden soldiers coming out. Rotten eggs and rotten fruits rained down on the golden soldiers. When he hit the ground, he felt like vomiting when he heard it, and he jumped into a rage with anger.

The commander of the Song Army shouted: "Let's go! It's still an egg now, and it will be troublesome if it is replaced by a stone."

Wanyan Xiyin was terrified, and ordered the soldiers to leave immediately. A large group of golden soldiers escorted Wanyan Xiyin and fled Jingzhao City in embarrassment...

After passing Lintong County, it was already dark, Wanyan Xiyin ordered to camp on the spot, and not far away, the [-] cavalry soldiers of the Song Army who were monitoring them also camped to rest.

At two o'clock, Wanyan Xiyin was woken up by the soldiers, "Xiangguo, someone from Jingzhao is here, and they say it was sent by the golden fox."

Wanyan Xiyin cheered up, and sat up quickly. The golden fox is of course a nickname. He is the intelligence leader of the Kingdom of Jin lurking in Sichuan and Shaanxi. In the beginning, Wanyan Wushu sent a group of people to lurk in Bashu in order to capture them. All kinds of information about Bashu, the leader of this group of people is the golden fox.

After Chen Qing seized Shaanxi Road, Jin Guo's intelligence network quickly expanded to Shaanxi Road, but this group of people lurked very deep and reported directly to Wan Yanchang. The situation is not known.

Of course, this group of people are all Han Chinese from Yanshan Mansion. They originally served the Liao Kingdom, but now they have changed their allegiance to the Jin Kingdom.

The person who came was a man in his thirties, tall and thin, with gloomy eyes. He knelt down on one knee and saluted, "Li Toutuo, a humble employee, is under the golden fox and is in charge of intelligence in the Jingzhao area."

"Are you a soldier?" Wanyan Xiyin saw that his arms were long and powerful.

"The humble job was originally the centurion under Marshal Wushu."

"Very well, stand up and talk!"

"Thank you Xiangguo!"

Li Toutuo stood up, and Wanyan Xiyin asked again: "Are the [-] Jurchens prisoners of war real?"

"It's true. I saw it with my own eyes. They were digging in the Red Copper Mountain in Qinzhou. There were a total of 2 people. It was recorded in the official documents of the Song Army, but how many of them were real girls and Khitans , Xi Ren, I am still learning about the humble position, and there are thousands of Jurchen family members who were captured in Fengxiang and are now working in the Song Army workshop."

"Is Chen Qing sincere in negotiating? Do you have any real news?"

Li Toutuo hesitated and said: "I only heard a rumor that the civil servants support the negotiations, but the generals are generally opposed to the negotiations, thinking that the [-] Jurchen troops will become new enemies when they are released. Chen Qing's attitude should be slightly biased towards the civil officials. .”

Wanyan Xiyin agrees with this explanation. Today, Chen Qing should just find an excuse to drive him away. Even if the negotiations between Wanyan Helisa and Wanyan Qi break down, at least they can talk about the redemption conditions for [-] prisoners of war, but Driving people away at the slightest disagreement is obviously catering to the military.

"What's going on with Song Jun now?" Wanyan Xiyin asked again.

"The humble official has already written a detailed report and sent someone to Beijing. The Song army is now dispatching troops to attack Xixia."

"When will we attack?" Wanyan Xiyin asked urgently.

"I don't know the specific position, but with the characteristics of Chen Qing's work, he will attack as soon as he is fully prepared, and there will be no delay. The position is estimated to be within two months."

"I see. When you go back, you must hurry up to collect intelligence on the Song army. In addition, the headhunting plan must be implemented quickly, especially for Chen Qing. I want to remind you that the reward offered by the old wolf lord to Chen Qing is still valid. This opportunity you Don't let it go."

"Humble job must do its best!"

Li Toutuo left immediately and disappeared like a shadow. Although the Song Army cavalry was monitoring the Jin Kingdom mission, they were only preventing the mission from causing major accidents. As for individual people lurking in and out, the Song Army did not pay attention.

Wanyan Xiyin stood in front of the big tent with his hands behind his back, feeling a little irritable in his heart, how could he explain to Tarlan that he didn't bring Wanyan and Lisa back?

At this time, the deputy envoy Xiao Hongquan said in a low voice: "I feel that the generals of the opposing army will not object to the issue of redeeming the two of you. Send the letter, if the imperial court agrees to Chen Qing's request, then go directly to exchange, if the imperial court is unwilling, then the problem is not on Xiangguo."

Wanyan Xiyin nodded, this is indeed the truth.

……

At dawn, Chong Huan was ready to go out, and his official residence was also in Quiren. In order to solve the housing problem for middle and low-level officials, Chen Qing bulldozed a large grassy vacant lot in Quiren and built more than 200 square meters. Set of yards.

Of course, this is just one of the places where official houses are concentrated. According to regulations, officials above the fifth rank live in official houses, officials below the fifth rank are allocated official houses, and civil servants without rank live in single dormitories. Several people live in a courtyard. a room.

There is a big difference between official residences and official residences. One is the area. The official residences are more than two acres.

The official residence is a single courtyard. The largest official residence is a six-rank one-acre five-yard courtyard with more than a dozen rooms, front and rear courtyards, and the smallest official residence is a nine-rank double-room courtyard.

Zhong Huan is the eighth rank, his official residence is three small courtyards, the conditions are very good, but every day he goes to the inner guard a little far away, the inner guard will match him with a horse, and every day at dawn, he leaves the house and sets out .

The official office of Neiwei is also on East Street, but on the other side, it is still a little distance from the bustling commercial shops.

Zhong Huan handed over the horse to the soldiers at the gate, and walked straight into the government office. The civil servants greeted him one after another, "It's early for Zhong to join the army!"

Chong Huan likes this feeling very much. Although he is in the army, everyone respects him enough to make him feel his own value.

Moreover, Wang Hao arranged a separate official room for him, which really moved him. Even No. 1 Wei Ji and No. 3 Chao Qing crowded into a lobby with dozens of people to work, but he had his own Separate official room.

Zhong Huan sat down, and a tea boy served him tea. He took a sip of the tea, and then took a bag of files. What he does every day is to review the reports submitted by each group. In Chao Qing's words, he This position is actually the inner guard judge.

It doesn't matter whether he is a judge or a recorder and joins the army. The important thing is whether he likes this job or not. From now on, he can still accept this job. After all, not every new scholar can enjoy a single official room. of.