Hsu Fengnian narrowed his eyes. "During that snowstorm, Xu Xiao met with that old woman outside the pass. Tuoba Bodhisattva and I each acted as coachmen. In the end, we parted on bad terms. However, if you think that Xu Xiao didn't agree because he felt that Beiliang's army's morale would drop, then you're underestimating my father and Empress Murong too much. She privately promised Xu Xiao and proposed a condition. You won't be able to guess it even if you beat me to death. "
Pei Nanwei casually said, "Isn't it that after we succeed, Xu Xiao will be old and can only retire, but Hsu Fengnian can be the master of the Central Plains?"
Hsu Fengnian was stunned. He couldn't help but curse. His face was full of shock as he said, "You can guess that?!"
Pei Nanwei rolled her eyes at him. "I couldn't guess it at first, but since you said it like that, I just can't believe it. Besides, Zhao Zhi is a woman, and so am I. Can't I guess Empress Murong's thoughts?"
Xu Fengnian praised from the bottom of his heart, "Amazing!"
Pei Nanwei suddenly said, "I'm not cold."
Hsu Fengnian looked confused.
Pei Nanwei twitched the corner of her mouth. "You're really afraid that I'll be cold and get splashed by the rain on my shoulder. Why don't you just turn the umbrella sideways to me? Aren't you being too sincere? Take your hand away! "
Hsu Fengnian resentfully withdrew his hand from Pei Nanwei's shoulder.
The two of them walked through the county yamen's gate. Hsu Fengnian closed the umbrella. County Magistrate Feng Guan and County Prime Minister Zuo Jing both lived behind the yamen. Hsu Fengnian, who was nominally the third-in-command of the county yamen, should also have a place. However, Feng Guan bullied him because he was "young, ignorant, and had no foundation" and pushed him out. When they entered the mountain to suppress the bandits, they actually didn't do anything. It was only because Feng Guan, who was the first-in-command, got an above-average grade in the year-end evaluation. Zuo Jing "shared" the leftovers. County Magistrate Bai Shangque, who was a scholar going to Liang, successfully transferred to the Youzhou army. As the two of them passed through the yamen, the Xu officials of the Sixth Branch who were still on duty greeted them warmly. They had a good impression of Xu Qi, the young registrar who had been missing for a long time and was unable to keep his seat. However, within their warm expressions, there was also a hint of playfulness in their eyes, both pity and schadenfreude. Hsu Fengnian relied on these clues to know what was going on. Although Registrar Xu was about to pack up and leave, Feng Guan was not too unreasonable when he learned that this person had come to visit. After all, he was the main culprit. Otherwise, Xu Qi would not have to leave Bishan County so quickly. In Youzhou's old calendar, not to mention a year and a half, how many disciples of the general class who worked in the yamen to make money could not be seen for years? Who told Xu Qi, a disciple of a low-class general class, to not have a backer and to not understand the current situation and loiter around? Who in Youzhou dared to not take the roll call seriously? It was said that in Lingzhou, under the reorganization of the provincial governor of the granary, a large number of disciples of noble families who didn't do proper work were taught a lesson. Feng Guan sat in the study and was playing with two new good items, the bamboo carved Shaoshi Taishi paperweight and the bamboo yellow lingzhi jade ruyi ruyi that was said to be made by the imperial family of the old Southern Tang. After hearing the servant's report, he originally wanted to get up and go outside the study to deal with the matter. He was not going to let Xu Qi drink a sip of hot tea. However, when the servant considerately mentioned that Registrar Xu's wife was also coming along, the county magistrate understood. He put his butt back on the chair and said that he would meet the guest in the study and prepare tea.
Feng Guan did not walk to the door of the study to welcome him. Then, the county magistrate saw the young man, who was supposed to be full of flattery, directly cross the threshold. He also did not take the initiative to greet him. What he did next was even more absurd. He actually had his wife, who was supposed to be a living widow, sit on the chair while he leaned against the chair. He asked, "If I remember correctly, the new registrar and county magistrate are both scholars from Beiliang. They are called Yang Gongshou and Zhu Ying, respectively. Previously, they were both students of Green Deer Cave Academy. Now, there is the great Confucian scholar Huang Chang and others in charge of reviewing the essays of Beiliang scholars. That Yang Gongshou was the champion of a half-year review in Youzhou. Let's not talk about him.
How about Zhu Ying? "Feng Guan was still holding the exquisite bamboo carving in one hand and his other hand was still in the posture of inviting someone to drink tea. He was at a loss.
For a moment, he didn't dare to look directly at the young man in front of him.
Feng Guan felt that it was strange. Where did this kid get this authority from? Feng Guan did not even feel this kind of pressure from the governor of Yanzhi County, Hong Shandong. Feng Guan, who felt that he had lost all face, put down the bamboo Ruyi ornament and drank a mouthful of tea to moisten his throat. Using the official voice that he had cultivated for many years, he said, "Xu Qi …"
Hsu Fengnian smiled and said, "My name is Hsu Fengnian."
Feng Guan was stunned for a moment. He sneered and said, "I am Zhang Julu!"
Feng Guan suddenly realized that the Grand Secretary was already dead. He flew into a rage out of humiliation. He slapped the table and said, "Xu Qi, do you believe that I can arrest you and throw you into prison just because of your shameful words?! Hmm?! "
Pei Nanwei reached out two fingers and secretly pinched Hsu Fengnian's waist. She also imitated the county magistrate's tone. "Let's talk business! Hmm?! "
Hsu Fengnian snapped his fingers. Then, Feng Guan discovered that a gust of cold wind had appeared beside him. A black-clothed brawny man with a rigid expression was standing there. He took out a simple bronze "General's Talisman" from his bosom and held it in front of Feng Guan's eyes.
Feng Guan had heard that the high-ranking officers of the border army all had a General's Talisman. It did not need to be used to mobilize troops. It only had one use, and that was on the battlefield. If the general died in battle, it would be handed over to the deputy general to command. If the deputy general died in battle, it would be handed over to the lieutenant general. If the lieutenant general died in battle, it would be handed over to the lieutenant general.
However, Feng Guan was not sure if this was the General's Talisman. Besides, even if he was beaten to death, he did not believe that Xu Qi was some King of Beiliang. As a result, Feng Guan suddenly felt a surge of heroic spirit. He loudly reprimanded, "Xu Qi, you are impudent! Do you really think this official is easy to fool?! "
The Earthly Branch death warrior who had followed Xu Xiao for many years glanced at his new master. Hsu Fengnian waved his hand, and this expressionless figure disappeared in a flash.
Feng Guan felt his hair stand on end.
Hsu Fengnian did not know whether to laugh or cry. He reached out to grab two of Pei Nanwei's fingers, and the latter struggled to pull them away.
Hsu Fengnian said helplessly, "Let's not talk about other things first. Give me your salary for the next few months. I'm waiting to be cooked at home."
Feng Guan leaned back in his chair. "If you have something to say, we can talk it out. Killing people to silence them is not something I can do. There are hundreds of brocade cavalry under my rule in Bishan District."
Rather than believing that this former Secretary was some Hsu Fengnian, he was more inclined to believe that this fellow was a Beimang spy who had infiltrated Youzhou.
Pei Nanwei stretched out a hand and said calmly, "Pay up. Twenty-four taels and seven coins. "
Feng Guan's forehead was covered in cold sweat. He forced a smile and said, "These two bamboo carvings were made by famous craftsmen in the Spring and Autumn Period. They can be sold for at least a hundred taels of silver. You can take them."
Pei Nanwei sneered, "Use them to light a fire? Enough? Besides, it's too dirty to use your hands. I want the silver. Hm?! "
Feng Guan cursed angrily in his heart. He had only played with these two bamboo carvings. How was it dirty?! Then did she not use the real money?! She was really a woman with long hair and short knowledge. She was born with such a femme fatale appearance in vain. Hsu Fengnian smiled and said, "County magistrate, then I'll go to the household to get my salary."
Feng Guan's legs were actually trembling, but he still pretended to be calm and waved his hand. He thought that as soon as the couple left, he would immediately have the torture room and the bailiffs arrest them! After Hsu Fengnian walked out of the study, he picked up the two oil paper umbrellas at the door. Pei Nanwei asked, "You're going to ask for your salary like this?"
Hsu Fengnian smiled and said, "I'm just afraid that I won't be able to reason with him. Besides, with his eyes wandering around your body, I'm afraid that before I can say anything, I won't be able to resist slapping him to death. Slapping Feng Guan to death is actually not bad. Anyone can be this kind of official. It's just right to make room for Yang Gongshou and Zhu Ying. "
Pei Nanwei's expression was a bit strange.
Hsu Fengnian received his salary from the yamen office in the front yard. Naturally, Xu Li didn't dare to show any attitude to the Secretary who had the county magistrate's "imperial edict". When they walked out of the yamen, they found that the rain had stopped. Xu Fengnian softly said, "That Yang Gongshou is nothing; he only knows how to write some beautiful essays that are not supported by any spiritual energy. Zhu Ying, on the other hand, is not famous in the Academy at the foot of the Green Deer Mountain, but she has a lot of critical essays on current affairs, all of which are placed on Fu Shui's desk. In the end, even my Er Jie was alarmed. She specially wrote a letter to me saying that this person is very useful. It's just that compared to Chen Xiliang and Xu Beizhi, she is too sharp, stubborn, and unforgiving. Several times, she even forced Huang Chang to invite a great scholar to give a lecture."
Pei Nanwei said with a cold face, "That Yang Gongshou is not a good person."
Hsu Fengnian smiled and said, "I knew it. Is this person pestering you? Fu Shui's spy hasn't told me about this. Is it something that happened recently? "
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