Early the next morning, the entire county government knew that the imperial envoy was about to arrive. Xu Boyi gathered all the petty officials and bailiffs and made a series of careful arrangements. The entire county was mobilized and began to prepare all kinds of gifts.
For a moment, the wind suddenly changed. Originally, people thought that after Ye Xiaotian returned to Gourd County, he would join hands with Hua Qingfeng and completely suppress County Magistrate Xu's arrogance. Ever since the three heads had been presented on the relay road, Xu Boyi had indeed not made any moves. Who would have thought that he would secretly play such a trick. The imperial envoy was coming!
There were so many counties in the world, but most of them had never been visited by an imperial envoy. There was no need to mention the tiny Gourd County. Even prefectural officials had never visited before, but now, an angel was about to arrive. How grand and glorious was this?
The reply from the Ministry of Rites was for Xu Boyi, so Xu Boyi naturally became the person in charge. If he wanted to use people, who would dare to refuse? If he wanted to repair the official roads, renovate the official residences, and build a hotel for the imperial envoy, would the county finance dare not allocate funds? For a moment, Xu Boyi's financial and human rights had mostly been seized back. He could now stand up to Hua Qingfeng, who had originally had the upper hand. Moreover, Hua Qingfeng was guarding the relay road while Xu Boyi was in the county to manage the overall situation. The host and guest were faintly changing positions.
Those who were observant noticed that Yeh Dianshi went to the county government early in the morning to check in and then immediately left. Without asking, it was obvious that he had gone to find Hua Qingfeng to discuss countermeasures. This time, most people didn't think very highly of him. Xu Boyi had the imperial decree. What could he use to fight against him?
Ye Xiaotian, however, didn't panic at all. Yes, Xu Boyi was currently very glorious, and indeed, no one dared to stop him from seizing power. Any opposition or obstruction would be a grave mistake when this matter had already been elevated to a higher level of political consideration by the Emperor and the court.
However, the crux of the matter was that Xu Boyi was able to accomplish it. Otherwise, no matter how much he won today, he would have to pay back double in the future. Ye Xiaotian had long planned and carefully deployed to dig a hole that he couldn't jump out of. Now that the plan was about to be realized, Ye Xiaotian couldn't be more happy and wouldn't feel uneasy.
Last night, Hua Qingfeng and Su Ya had ruined Ye Xiaotian's plans. After sending them away, he no longer had the mood to be intimate with Duo Ni. He calmed his mind and repeatedly thought about how to get Hua Qingfeng to approve and agree to participate in his plan. Hua Hua Qingfeng was incompetent and was not easy to convince, so Ye Ye Xiaotian could carefully.
This time, Ye Xiaotian decided to pull Hua Qingfeng into his plan, no matter how much he swindled him. Unexpectedly, when Ye Xiaotian arrived at the post station, Hua Qingfeng invited him into the room and sat down. Before Ye Xiaotian could say anything, Hua Qingfeng already spoke first.
Hua Qingfeng said, "Yeh Dianshi, after I came back last night, I thought about it carefully for a long time. This time, Xu Boyi borrowed the power of heaven. Not to mention you and me, even if the government officials wanted to stop him, it would be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. If you want to make him fail, you have to start from the most fundamental point! "
Ye Xiaotian was slightly stunned and swallowed the words that were about to come out of his mouth. He looked at Hua Qingfeng and said, "What does the county magistrate mean?"
Hua Qingfeng said, "What is the reason why the imperial court values him so much and cares so much about this matter? It is because they hope to promote the people of this county to change their surnames. Once this matter is done, it will not only make the household registration management convenient. For the imperial court, this is to spread its prestige to the four barbarians and enlighten the eight directions. For the emperor, after the emperor takes over the government, the people will be at peace with the heavens. With this kind of righteous title in hand, who would dare to stop him? But what if this matter causes the people of the various tribes to strongly oppose it? "
A crafty look appeared on Hua Qingfeng's face. He smiled and said, "As far as this county magistrate knows, Yeh Dianshi has a very close relationship with the Gao and Li stockaded villages. And the Gao and Li stockaded villages are the leaders of the various tribes in this county. All the tribes have always followed their lead. "
Ye Xiaotian was secretly shocked. When did this county magistrate's courage become so big? If he wanted to make a fuss about this matter, then it wouldn't just be a fight with Xu Boyi. This was a rebellion against the imperial court and the will of the emperor!
Inciting the common people to oppose him, Xu Boyi was finished. But the emperor originally believed it and excitedly sent the imperial envoy over. In the end, he returned with his face covered in dirt. At that time, the face of the imperial court and the emperor would be completely lost. Once this matter was known by others, it would be a crime punishable by beheading!
Although Ye Xiaotian was extremely daring, he had originally planned to do this. What imperial power, the son of heaven, and the dignity of the imperial court? In his heart, they were all farts. Without this kind of unscrupulous temperament, could he open a path to a mountain and build a bridge to a river? Could he defeat Qi Mu and kill Meng Qingwei? It was absolutely illegal to send those evil people to the afterlife.
Ye Xiaotian never had the consciousness to worry about the country, the people, or the world, but he was not a muddle-headed official or evil tyrant who would bully people and take women away once he grasped power. He only followed his heart. As long as it didn't make him feel uneasy, there was nothing he couldn't do. But he didn't expect that the always timid and well-behaved Magistrate Hua would also have this kind of plan.
"It seems that he also knows that once Xu Boyi succeeds, he will never have a chance to rise again. This is like a cornered dog jumping over a wall!" Ye Xiaotian thought to himself, feeling quite happy. Since Hua Qingfeng had taken the initiative to speak, it saved him a lot of effort. If he had known this would happen, he wouldn't have spent so much effort to think of so many excuses last night.
When Hua Qingfeng saw Ye Xiaotian nod in agreement, a trace of a smile appeared on his face. The current Hua Qingfeng seemed to be faintly different from before, but who could notice? Everyone had long become accustomed to his image as the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle".
… …
"This ring stone, quickly wash it with water again." Xu Boyi pointed at the ring stone in front of the court and ordered a yamen runner. The yamen runner complied, picked up the basin, and slipped away.
Xu Boyi hurriedly walked forward, and as he walked, he asked Li Yuncong, "Have the drums in front of the court been changed?"
Li Yuncong replied, "Don't worry, milord. They've all been replaced, and the fence has been repainted."
At this time, the entire yamen had been refurbished, but under Xu Boyi's orders, everyone was still climbing the walls, digging the doors, and carrying out a thorough cleaning.
These days, all the people in the yamen were running around in circles under Xu Boyi's orders, and the sweeping had already been carried out four times. The imperial envoy would arrive the next day, and Xu Boyi didn't leave his side for even a moment, afraid that something might go wrong.
At the entrance of the yamen, three ladders were erected on the lintel. Two yamen runners, dressed in short outfits, climbed up the high lintel and used a rag to wipe down the county yamen signboard, which was now shiny enough to reflect one's reflection. The yamen runner in the middle climbed down the ladder, picked up a bucket, and went to wash the rag.
Seeing this, Xu Boyi tucked in his robe, climbed up the ladder, and reached behind the signboard. Looking at the thin layer of dust on his hand, he flew into a rage, "You bunch of bastards! If I don't look at you for even a moment, you want to do things half-heartedly. Why is the back of the signboard so dirty? Take down the signboard, and make sure to wipe it until it's spotless. "
"Tsk tsk tsk, County Magistrate Xu is really working hard. Your legs must be weak from all the running these days, right?" A strange voice suddenly came from below. Xu Boyi looked down and saw Ye Xiaotian standing in front of the steps, curling his lips and looking at him with a look of disdain.
Ye Xiaotian ridiculed, "These days, I've seen you, milord Xu, walking around in and out of poverty. Even the back of the signboard needs to be repeatedly wiped. Is there a need to do this? Isn't it just the imperial envoy coming? Will the imperial envoy climb up the ladder to check if the back of your signboard is clean? "
Xu Boyi climbed down the ladder. Seeing that Li Yuncong had already retreated to the side in embarrassment, he couldn't help but glare fiercely at him. What a useless thing. With this official taking care of things for you, what are you afraid of? In a few more days, the official's career will soar, and this little Warden position will be even less of a problem.
Xu Boyi used a condescending gaze to look at Ye Xiaotian, and proudly said, "Yeh Dianshi, the imperial envoy naturally won't climb up the door to check if the signboard is clean or not. But the Emperor has sent someone, and that is the glory of our Gourd County. This Xu works for the court and for the Emperor, so naturally I will do my best. Could it be that just because the imperial envoy can't see or won't go look, he can falsify things? "
Ye Xiaotian smiled, "Fine! In just a short while, County Magistrate Xu has brought up the Emperor. It seems … a bit far. "
Xu Boyi also smiled, his slightly narrowed eyes flashing with a needle-like radiance, "Far? I don't think it's far! In the past, who would have thought that the imperial envoy would grace our county? But now that the envoy will arrive tomorrow, seeing the angel is like seeing the face of the Emperor, like listening to the voice of the Emperor. And in the future, how do you know if this official will really be able to see the Son of Heaven? "
Ye Xiaotian cynically said, "Xu daren's ambition is really lofty, this Ye admires you!"
Xu Boyi coldly snorted, and said, "Yeh Dianshi is in charge of this county's security. Have you completed the task this official has given you? Tomorrow, the imperial envoy will arrive. If you make any mistakes, in front of the imperial envoy, this official will not be able to protect you. "
Ye Xiaotian said, "Daren, rest assured. This official naturally does not dare to be negligent, and will not make any mistakes!"
"That's good!" Xu Boyi smiled, and said without thinking, "After this matter, this official will remember your merit in front of the imperial envoy!"
Ye Xiaotian was' pleasantly surprised ', and said, "Really? Aiya, County Magistrate really does not forget to help the younger generation. Then this official will thank you in advance. "
"Ha! Haha … "
"Heh! Hehe … "
The two of them laughed at the same time, and their smiles were equally treacherous, but it was unknown what they were relying on.
On the official road of the post road, a group of soldiers was escorting a ceremonial guard over slowly. There was a yellow tomahawk, a white lance, a standing melon, a squatting melon, a silver spear, a long halberd, an official title plate, a dragon and phoenix flag … the entire set of ceremonial guards of the imperial envoy. The accompanying warriors were dressed in embroidered robes, neat and tidy, and each of them had a saber and a sword, looking valiant and heroic.
In the carriage, the Right Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Lin Siyan, picked up a chess piece and thought hard for a long time. Finally, he threw the chess piece into the chess box, shook his head, and said with a smile, "I lost! Imperial Uncle's chess piece is still better! "
Li Xuancheng smiled and casually messed up the chessboard. He looked forward and said, "Daren Lin, we should arrive at Gourd County tomorrow, right?"
Assistant Minister Lin nodded and said, "That's right! Imperial Uncle must be tired from the journey. Once we reach Gourd County, you can have a good rest. "
Li Xuancheng shook his head and said with a smile, "It can't be said to be tiring. Guizhou has beautiful mountains and rivers, and the scenery is endless. It is very pleasing to the eye, and Li Xuancheng likes it very much."
As Li Xuancheng spoke, he walked out and held onto the railing of the carriage. He looked into the distance. The mountains and rivers were beautiful, and the sky was clear. A snow-white cloud quietly floated in the air, and when it entered his eyes, it vaguely transformed into a beautiful face that could turn all living things upside down. Li Xuancheng's heart couldn't help but feel hot.
