The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

Outside the south city of Luzhou, along the banks of the Feishui River that passes through the city, there are lush willow forests. When the summer is hot, the banks of the river become a place for children to play and play in the water.

In a bend of clear water only three miles away from the gate of the South City, there are more than a dozen children playing in the water, touching fish and shrimp, and playing carefree.

A child with a thick head and a thick head plunged into the water and swam to hide in the reeds. The other children looked around after counting silently for dozens of times. They were playing a game of catching water ghosts.

After a while, a child found the hiding place of the tiger-headed child, cheered and swam over with splashes of water, shouting loudly: "Here...here, I am the most powerful."

When the children heard the news, they rushed over, and there was a lot of water; when they came to the edge of the reeds, they suddenly found that the boy with thick head and thick head was staring at something blankly, as if he was stupid.

All the children rushed to him, followed his gaze, they were like throwing a stone into a bird, they ran around in shock, there was a body of a person who had swelled in the reeds, and the stench spread with the wind , Flies were flying around the corpse.

The news spread quickly, and some people rushed to the government office in the city to report to the officials. At the same time, hundreds of onlookers came to watch the news. People were discussing and guessing whose body it was, whether they were killed by others, or they threw themselves into the river. .

The yamen servants arrived one after another, and while examining the corpse, they asked the surrounding people to see if anyone knew the deceased; one of the crowd said, "Looking at the appearance of this person, it seems to be Qin Dalang, the master of the Suji tailor shop in the city." , it’s just that the face is swollen, so I’m really not sure.”

After being reminded by this person, someone suddenly realized: "It seems to be Qin Dalang. Last time I went to Suji to order clothes, it was the size he measured for me. He seems to be a very kind person. Why can't he think about throwing himself into the river?"

Now that someone recognized the person's identity, the yamen servants hurriedly recorded it, and went back to Su Ji to investigate, busy at one end and said: "Don't even look at it, what's so good about a dead person, it's gone, everything is in the hands of the government." deal with."

In the crowd, a man of medium build and wearing a bamboo hat stood by the side without saying a word. He looked at the man carefully, rolling his eyes and opening his mouth, busy until the yamen servants came to drive him away. The servant next to him left.

Qin Dalang's body was finally found three days after his disappearance. The government servants went to Suji to verify Qin Dalang's identity before officially announcing that it was Qin Dalang, the master of Suji's garment shop, who really threw himself into the river.

The news spread like wildfire, and people speculated about how Qin Dalang died. Those who knew him didn't believe that Qin Dalang would throw himself into the river. Normally, he was kind and didn't have any soft thoughts. Going to work, the wages are quite generous, there is no reason to throw himself into the river.

However, the Luzhou government quickly released news to quell the discussion. The notice said: According to the inspection by Wu, Qin Dalang did commit suicide by throwing himself into the water.

The government's notice dispelled people's doubts. Although they sighed and sighed, Qin Dalang was just a small person, and he didn't have many friends on weekdays. Soon Qin Dalang's death became old news, and another notice was replaced.

"Fathers and elders, at the time of tomorrow, the Yamen of Luzhou Prefecture is hearing the case of Su Ji Shaodong's family assaulting people in the street. At the request of the family members of the Su family, they are allowed to observe and watch. At that time, there is no noise, no talking, and those who violate it will be treated with contempt. Discussion in court."

The people watching this announcement were all excited. The name of Su Xiaoguan has long been known to everyone. During this period of time, it can be said that he has been in the limelight. He is like a superstar in Luzhou City, but unexpectedly he beat up the magistrate in the street. Mr. Ya Nei, this is going to be a tough time.

Some people are curious, some are excited, some are worried, and some are sighing. There are various reactions. Most people have a mentality that watching the excitement is not a big deal. Anyway, these rich people, whether they are businessmen or officials, Life is always better than ordinary people, no matter who is good and who is bad, what people are happy to see is two dogs biting each other, each biting a piece of hair, it is best to tear off a piece of meat, the common people It's good for talking and joining in the fun.

Most people don't understand why the Su family wants to have a public trial. The small officials of the Su family either have to stick their buttocks, or pay money to forgive their crimes. In short, it is a matter of losing face. The Su family's request for a public trial is not enough to be ashamed.

Of course, there are still people who know the key to it, and a small number of people can even feel that this matter is unusual. A small brawl can actually issue a notice and demand a public trial. Isn't this an act of taking off your pants and farting?If there is no secret in the middle, it is really a ghost.

In Bao's Mansion in the south of the city, Bao Zheng stood in the courtyard with his hands behind his back, holding an ancient locust tree in the courtyard thoughtfully. Behind him stood a man who looked like a master, and the two were talking softly.

"My lord, do you think there is something strange about it?" the master said in a humane manner.

"Master, what do you think?" Bao Zheng asked back, his master is a smart man, and Bao Zheng likes to chat with him every time a case happens to inspire his thinking.

"According to normal procedures, such small cases can usually be dealt with on the same day. This morning, it has been nearly three hours since Mr. Zhu learned the news. Logically speaking, the interrogation should be completed. Why did it drag on again?" The trial will be held at the end of tomorrow, if it is not intentional, then the prefect Zhu has other important things to do, so this matter will be postponed." The master stroked his long beard.

Bao Zheng frowned heavily, nodded and said: "Master's analysis is very reasonable, but what important things does a magistrate who can spend more than an hour chatting in my house have to do? This matter is so important as to judge the case." Such official affairs have to be postponed, isn't it a contradiction?"

"Perhaps there is an urgent business and I don't know." The master said.

Bao Zheng said sternly: "Let's say you are right. In the three hours between when Su Jin beat people up and issued a notice to the government, let's see what happened."

The master suddenly stopped the hand twirling his beard, opened his mouth wide and said, "My lord...you..."

Bao Zheng stretched out two fingers and said: "The first thing is that the Su family went to the government office and asked for a public trial of the case; why the Su family did this is probably because they felt that the matter was a bit tricky, and they were afraid that the magistrate would use the public to benefit his own interests and use it as an excuse The eyes of the common people give supervision; and the second thing is that the body of Qin Dalang, the shopkeeper of the tailor shop who has been missing for three days without seeing anyone or dead in the Su family, is suddenly discovered. The reeds of the Sanli Bridge playing in the water, don’t Master feel a little strange?”

"That's right, if the person who has been missing for three days drowned in Sanliqiao, he should be found soon, and the Su family should have searched everywhere. Why can't the Su family find it, but they were seen by a few children?" ?” Master followed Bao Zheng’s train of thought, and the conclusion he got surprised him.

"Could it be that your lord thinks that...someone intentionally made Qin Dalang's body appear at this time, and that Qin Dalang probably didn't commit suicide, but... homicide." The master's conclusion was indeed shocking.

Bao Zheng remained silent, and gently patted the old tree trunk with his hand.

"But the clerk of the yamen decided to commit suicide after investigation. What is the reason for this?" The master was still immersed in the case and couldn't help himself, muttering to himself.

Bao Zheng turned around and said: "All these things are inextricably linked with this small official Su, I am becoming more and more interested in this small official Su; Master, you don't need to get entangled. The matter is easy to understand, the work is the work of the Luzhou government, what to say, what to do is probably beyond my control; what I am concerned about is, what does the occurrence of these things mean? Talk to this small official Su What is the connection with the beating case?"

The master pondered for a while, then suddenly smiled and said: "I will know tomorrow, why should my lord worry too much, I guess my lord will go to watch the trial tomorrow."

Bao Zheng showed a rare smile, and the smile disappeared on his fair face: "Master is right, the answer will be revealed tomorrow."