surnamed Wang

Less than a month after taking office, the new governor of Anzhou started three fires in succession.

The first two were used by him to burn others because of his complacency, while the third was a real open fire, pushing the already difficult people's livelihood in Xi'an to a dead end.

After the fire was put out, Song Mao, who had worked so hard, couldn't hold it back and spurted out a mouthful of blood. After that, he fell ill and lay in bed for half a month.

Officials in the court who were at odds with the Liu Party would naturally not miss this opportunity, and handed it to the Emperor's desk like a piece of paper. Wang Zhaoqi had no choice but to transfer Song Mao back to the capital with an imperial decree.

It was snowing heavily in Xi'an Town. The young man who had not yet recovered was pale and wrapped in a cloak. He stood alone in the wind and snow and whispered:

"Brother Xuanzai, what did I do wrong?"

"Huijun, you didn't do anything wrong, you just underestimated people's hearts."

Song Mao let out a series of violent coughs. The attendant hurriedly handed over the water bag. The young man pushed it away gently and continued:

"I have read so many books in vain that I have even forgotten the teachings of the sages, 'Don't worry about the scarcity of people, but worry about the inequality'."

It was indeed his decision to choose the people to work in the palace. Those people were senior and junior, and they were the result of repeated deliberation.

He couldn't explain these things clearly to the people. Human nature is selfish, and they only care about whether they get it or not.

Guan Changsheng sighed and said:

"Huijun, what are you going to do after returning to Beijing?"

"I didn't think about it. Song's trip was a disgrace to Liu Gong's cultivation, and he failed to live up to His Majesty's expectations. He will most likely be demoted when he returns. But it's okay. I'll do the paperwork again, so I don't have to deal with people's hearts."

Song Mao's words seemed free and easy, but in fact they were full of bitterness. Guan Changsheng wanted to comfort him, but after thinking about it, he could only shake his head.

The wind and snow gradually stopped. Song Mao looked at the empty streets, turned around and said:

"Brother Xuanzai, send it here. Later, thank the prince for your help. When you have time, come to the capital and you and I will get drunk."

"must."

Guan Changsheng watched the other party get into the carriage.

……

The carriage drove further and further, and as soon as it turned the corner, an inappropriate voice sounded from behind the Confucian scholar:

"This Mr. Song is so innocent. He helped count the money after being sold."

Guan Changsheng turned around, glanced at the young man, and was too lazy to answer him. King Wu, who came with him, looked ahead and said:
"Song Mao is Liu Muqing's protégé. If I hadn't pushed him too hard, I wouldn't have wanted him to leave in such an embarrassing state."

Wang Yijing looked at Guan Changsheng with a playful smile, "So, when a scholar kills a scholar, he is the most ruthless."

The latter was slightly unhappy, but had nothing to say. The method was indeed what he thought of. If Song Mao was not dealt with, Xi'an Town would always be under the emperor's nose.

Wang Yijing seemed to not want to embarrass the other party too much, put his hands in his sleeves and said:
"The reason why Song Mao is good at Taoism is, in the final analysis, because he is a good official. Good officials are often the easiest to deal with. Spreading dirty water and making excuses are the only methods that work.

Mr. Guan has given him proper dignity, but don't feel too guilty. Even if we don't set this fire, someone will sooner or later. By then, I'm afraid it's not just Song Mao who will be held accountable. "

King Wu nodded and said:
“In the short term, the people will be grateful to Huize, but over time, they will feel that they have not received enough, and then they will feel dissatisfied and regard their benefactors as their enemies.

Therefore, when governing the world, one should give both kindness and power, and should not just please or oppress. Only in this way can all people be educated. "

Wang Yijing has never understood much about the way of governing the country. He was born and raised in the border area. He has been exposed to the desert sky and the setting sun since he was a child, and he has always disdained the games in the court.

Compared with the vastness of the world, the kind of tricks played by people living in a corner are just like children playing, but this kind of playing can kill people.

Guan Changsheng calmed down. As a counselor, it was understandable for him to make suggestions. Even if he did something against his will, it was his duty.

Thinking of this, the young man was relieved a lot, but Wang Yijing seemed to be deliberately against him, squatting down and muttering to himself:

"It is better to study more. Mr. Guan's clever plan not only kills the heart, but also kills the kindness of loving the people like a son. It is estimated that from now on, Mr. Song will not dare to be a parent."

When Wang Yijing said this, there was a smile in his eyes, obviously he was teasing the other party, but Guan Changsheng didn't know it, and his slightly improved mood became depressed again.

……

Half a month ago, late at night.In the Beggar's Nest, there were far fewer people sleeping here than in previous days, but the smell was still not good.

As midnight approached, several people who were sleeping soundly in the corner suddenly opened their eyes. After looking at each other, they stood up and walked out.

Wang Yijing, who was in the center of the crowd, also sat up at this time. Just as he was about to leave quietly, his arm was suddenly pulled by someone.

"Where are you going in the middle of the night?"

The woman next to him was blind but had excellent hearing. She stared at the young man with two gray eyes. After getting along with him for a while, she had become dependent on the man.

Wang Yijing gently shook the opponent's cold hands and whispered:
"I'll go out and take care of some things. I'll be back in a while. You can sleep peacefully."

The woman was worried, but she still nodded. She was blind and knew that there were some things that she should not ask in detail.

Wang Yijing came out of the shack, slapped his cheek with a cold palm, then his eyes became firm, he took a breath, easily jumped up to the roof, and ran towards the northwest.

……

On the streets of the town, Song Mao drove out of the town in a carriage.

Different from the high spirits when I first arrived, the road back seemed particularly deserted, and I would be lying if I said it wasn't desolate.

He sighed, lowered the curtains, closed his eyes slightly, and planned to take a good rest. At this moment, the carriage stopped and there was no movement for a long time.

Song Mao was confused and opened the curtain. The scene in front of him made him stunned.

Outside the carriage, the streets were filled with people, dressed in rags, surrounding the carriage.

The leader was a blind girl. She slowly came to the carriage with a jug of wine and said softly:
"Thank you, Mr. Song, for saving your life. Please drink some practice wine before you go on your way."

The attendant who drove the car saw this and said:
"My elders have internal diseases and are unable to drink. The girl kindly accepted it."

"Xiang Wen, bring the wine."

"grown ups……"

"bring here."

"Yes."

The drink was brought to Song Mao. He lifted the jar and drank it without hesitation. His movements were bold and unrestrained, not like a scholar at all.

"Good wine!"

The man wiped his mouth and sighed in admiration. The jar contained low-quality wine that cost only a few cents per kilogram on the roadside, but in his mouth he felt like a fine wine.

With the spicy drink in his stomach, his cold body suddenly warmed up. He took off his cloak and asked his entourage to hand it to the woman. He held his hands in front of everyone and returned to the car with a big smile.

The carriage rolled away carrying the wind and snow, and the people watched the young official disappear.

"Did you arrange it?" Guan Changsheng asked the young man.

Wang Yijing held the same wine jar in his hand and said with a half-smile:

"That's not entirely true. Not everyone is a white-eyed wolf. There are still many people who appreciate the kindness of Governor Song."

The young man picked up the wine jar, took a sip, handed it to the other person and said:
"You should also warm yourself up. I'm going to pick up Yingniang."

After saying that, he ran all the way towards the distance.

Guan Changsheng looked at the other party's back and muttered in confusion:

"Does this guy really want to marry that girl?"

After saying that, he smiled and shook his head, picked up the wine jar and started drinking alone.

In the carriage, Song Mao seemed to be a little drunk. He was leaning in the corner with a wine jar, his eyes closed and he was snoring weakly.

... (end of this chapter)