Chapter 130 Self-hanging southeast branch, beaming
"Let the old man die?"
Xu Jingzong jumped up in an instant, and just about to shout, Bao Dong said: "Here is Xiao Jia's letter."
"Bring it here, no, put it on the case table, I will take it by myself." Xu Jingzong pointed to the door vigilantly, motioning Bao Dong to retreat outside.
Bao Dong smiled wryly, "I just want you to fake your death."
Xu Jingzong shook his head, Bao Dong had no choice but to back out, watching him take the letter.
In the letter, Master Jia greeted Lao Xu's body cordially, and finally scolded him for still being stupid and being tricked.
However, in the full text, Jia Ping'an didn't complain about being implicated, nor did he say a word about being punished for taking risks for Lao Xu.
Xu Jingzong looked at the familiar handwriting and sniffed.
Finally, Jia Pingan talked about his plan...
Xu Jingzong raised his head, "Okay, I understand, I will do it right away."
Bao Dong goes out, but only hides on the side.
Master Jia explained: Lao Xu is a nice person, but he is afraid of getting a cold scalp.
Bao Dong didn't understand what cold scalp meant, but he remembered Jia Ping'an's explanation very clearly.
stares at him.
Inside, Xu Jingzong is writing a suicide note.
After finishing the suicide note, he got a piece of silk, hung it on the beam with great effort, and then stood on the stool.
The satin is knotted. After several tests, the length just reaches the chin.
Ahem!
Xu Jingzong coughed a few times and felt that his voice was good, so he kicked the stool hard.
He put a cup on the stool, which would make a crisp sound when it landed, and the servants not far away would naturally come to check.
The old man's arrangements are flawless.
Xu Jingzong stepped on his feet and felt slippery...
The stool didn't fall down, and it moved almost half a step in parallel with the cup.
Xu Jingzong hung his feet in the air, and he was hung up.
cluck cluck...
His hands helplessly grasped the rope, kicking his feet wildly.
Old man...Old man, let it go!
Bao Dong outside waited, but found that there was no movement, so he remembered Jia Ping'an's words.
"Mr. Xu is slow in doing things. If he hesitates, remember to remind him."
Bao Dong thought for a while, then went over again, and pushed the door open a gap.
Two legs dangle back and forth in front of the eyes.
Bao Dong: "..."
Didn't let you really die!
Seeing that Lao Xu was struggling, he wanted to rescue him.
Good boy, come and save the old man.
Xu Jingzong couldn't hold it anymore.
Ke Baodong kicked the stool over violently, the cup fell to the ground and shattered, turned around and ran away.
return…
"What's wrong with Alang?"
A servant woman came muttering.
She walked to the door, saw Xu Jingzong hanging from the southeast branch, and couldn't help screaming.
"Come here!"
Go save Lao Xu first! Even if you hug your thighs! Bao Dong, who was hiding in the corner, wanted to die.
Fortunately, a few servants rushed over upon hearing the sound, hurriedly carrying their thighs, and those looking for knives...
"A Lang hanged himself!"
shouted sharply.
Bao Dong saw that Lao Xu was untied and gasping for breath, so he knew that the problem was not serious, so he retreated quietly.
…
The court is discussing matters.
This year's harvest is not bad, Changsun Wuji thinks this is God's favor for Datang, and it is also God's favor for the late emperor.
He looked at the emperor with deep eyes, thinking that many people in the small circle have been muttering recently, saying that the emperor is a bit domineering.
"Your Majesty!"
A servant came outside, Wang Zhongliang went over, and walked quickly when he came back.
"Your Majesty, Xu Jingzong committed suicide."
Li Zhi was still smiling, but his back was tense.
A feeling of sadness and loss came to my heart.
Is my confidant finally lost?
"Fortunately, he was rescued by his family."
"Let the medical officer go immediately!" Li Zhi blurted out, panting hard.
This time he didn't hide it.
The eyes turned, and the prime ministers were dumbfounded.
The medical officer left quickly.
He came back later and reported: "Xu Shijun's throat was injured, and the strangulation marks are not shallow."
This is the genuine self-hanging southeast branch.
"Your Majesty, maybe Xu Jingzong committed suicide in fear of crime?"
"It's possible, this person is cunning, he should be put in prison immediately."
Li Zhi sat at the top, watching the courtiers impeaching Xu Jingzong.
And Jia Pingan...
"Your Majesty, Xuanzang has already prepared, saying that he will accept Jia Ping'an as a disciple, and then lead him to devote himself to practice."
There was an obvious sound of relief coming from the hall.
That broom star is finally going to leave.
Outside the gate of the palace, an official came staggeringly.
Walking closer, he said in a deep voice, "Please also tell Your Majesty, Wailang Macheng, a member of the Department of Household Affairs... has important matters to see His Majesty."
The message is passed in.
"Follow me."
Ma Cheng followed into the palace, all the way to the outside of the palace.
"Your Majesty, Ma Cheng is here."
Li Zhi was in a very bad mood at the moment. If it wasn't for the fact that his basic qualities as an emperor were still there, he would have yelled at the officials at this moment. He frowned, "Let him come."
Ma Cheng came in and knelt down.
What does it mean?
Li Zhi just wanted to ask a question, but Ma Cheng raised his head, "Your Majesty, I have failed Your Majesty, I have been corrupt for more than 2,000 years, and I deserve... ten thousand deaths!"
Changsun Wuji lost his composure and turned around.
Chu Suiliang lost his composure and turned around...
The sounds from the bones and joints rang out intensively.
It is not known how many corrupt officials there are, but they have never seen corrupt officials who turned themselves in.
The only explanation is that the fact that this person was corrupt was exposed.
Ma Cheng bowed his head and kowtowed, "The minister reported...the minister reported the superior, and the household department's governor Wang Tao corrupted more than 3,000 corruptions. The minister has recorded it, and every minister has recorded it..."
Boom!
There seemed to be thunder echoing in the hall.
Li Zhi couldn't believe it: "You reported Wang Tao?"
Ma Cheng nodded, "Yes, since two years ago, Wang Tao and his ministers have been in and out of fraudulent activities, and even conspired with officials from three state capitals for corruption..."
Du Zhisi also has a duty, which is to set the annual tax quota for each state.
If the Department of Household Affairs colludes with local officials, the quota can be increased or decreased, and there is too much room for manipulation.
"The accountant has already brought it."
Ma Cheng took out the accounts, and this was the last blow.
Changsun Wuji glanced at Chu Suiliang, who was full of surprise.
Taking down Xu Jingzong and driving away the broom star, this matter is already a certainty. But at this critical moment, Ma Cheng suddenly surrendered and reported Wang Tao.
This is not right!
Ma Cheng's corruption seems to be a certainty, but why did he surrender?
This is not right!
Chu Suiliang saw a cold light in Changsun Wuji's eyes.
This is someone manipulating!
Li Zhi was in a very high mood at the moment, and after the ups and downs, he felt a little dizzy.
Ma Cheng continued to confess, "Wang Tao and his ministers were corrupt together. Once he boasted after drinking, saying that his corrupt money was well hidden. He rented a quiet room in Xiangyun Temple in Dayefang all the year round. I go there once a month, carry a little money every time, and just hide it inside, and if I need money, I go to the temple to worship Buddha..."
"Take Wang Tao!"
Li Zhi only felt that his eyes were bright, and his mood was uplifted. But there is something strange about this matter, he must ask clearly, "Why did you surrender yourself?"
Ma Cheng was stunned, "I think of your majesty's kindness... Your kindness."
What kindness, it’s okay to coax ghosts, and none of the people present believe it.
Li Zhi's eyes turned cold, "I must not say a single word in my question, otherwise I will be severely punished!"
Ma Cheng secretly complained, but at this moment he had no way out. Secretly cursing Jia Ping'an's son for not having pi, after yanking, he chose to confess.
"The people of Baiqi have found evidence of Chen's corruption..."
In an instant, a line of reasoning came out.
Since Xu Jingzong and Jia Ping'an were grounded, Baiqi began to act.
They knew that they could not get anything from Wang Tao, so they thought of the corruption line.
If Wang Tao is corrupt, then Ma Cheng can't say what he knows, so...
"How did they check?"
As a famous general, Li Ji is more interested in such methods.
Ma Cheng said: "They checked the property of the minister, as well as the property of the minister's wife and brother, and finally found the money."
…
Pingkangfang at this moment.
Chen Ling, who was looking forward to raising Xiao Xianrou, changed her color and said, "The broom star!"
"Of course!"
Jia Pingan pressed her shoulder, "Ma Cheng has surrendered to the palace at this moment. He has corrupted more than two thousand pennies, and he must be dealt with. You...you can do it yourself."
He got out of the carriage.
Chen Ling is a good woman, so getting out is not a problem.
Bao Dong asked puzzledly: "You didn't sleep with her, why did you let her go?"
Jia Pingan watched the carriage leave in a hurry, and sighed: "Man, what is a man?"
Bao Dong waited for his own question and answer.
"If someone took advantage of her, then give her another chance. As for whether she can seize it, it depends on her own ability."
"You spy!" Bao Dong was a little envious of Master Jia's way of coaxing women.
"Actually...I want to be a good person."
…
In the court, Wang Tao has been brought here.
As soon as he saw Ma Cheng, his legs softened instantly.
Li Zhi sneered and said: "Xu Jingzong impeached you for corruption, but there are many people who vouch for you, saying that you are as clean as water. Wang Tao, Ma Cheng is here today, what should you do!"
Changsun Wuji was dumbfounded.
Those courtiers who impeached Xu Jingzong and Jia Ping'an... some were numb, some were ashamed.
How loud their shouts were at the beginning, how embarrassing they are now.
The face was slapped.
When he saw Ma Cheng, Wang Tao already had an ominous premonition in his heart.
Ma Cheng and him are grasshoppers on the same rope, one person reports, and the two are unlucky.
This is why some corruption cases are prone to nest cases as soon as they are investigated, because anyone who falls behind this line has the risk of being discovered.
These two people are in Duzhi Division, one person is in charge, and the other is in charge of the exit. If anything goes wrong, the other person will find out.
Ma Cheng glanced at Wang Tao, "Your Majesty, his money is hidden in Xiangyun Temple."
Plop!
Wang Tao knelt down, looking at Changsun Wuji and the others in despair, hoping that someone would help him.
Li Zhi only felt that the recent gloom had dissipated, and ordered: "Let Shaopeng come."
He feels that his confidant has been very effective recently.
Later when Shaopeng came, seeing Wang Tao and Ma Cheng, he couldn't help secretly praising Xiao Jia's methods.
"Baiqi did a good job in this matter." The original Baiqi was lifeless, and he couldn't do anything, and he took the first place in the blame. When Li Zhi saw something was wrong, he prepared to expand and turn Baiqi into an army.
But now it seems that Baiqi has a lot to do and should be retained.
He glanced at his uncle and felt that the small circle has been too aggressive recently, and he needs to suppress it. The good news of Baiqi is undoubtedly the best tool to suppress, "How to do this, you can tell me."
I asked after everything came to an end, which meant to flog the corpse.
Shao Peng glanced at Changsun Wuji, "Your Majesty, after this incident happened, Jia Ping'an sent a letter at home, saying that every entry and exit of the Duzhi Division must be settled. If Wang Tao is corrupt, Ma Cheng will definitely not get better... "
"It turned out to be him?" Li Zhi thought of that boy.
"He said that Ma Cheng would definitely not dare to keep the stolen money at home, and the other business was the most likely, so Baiqi went to search for Ma Cheng's other business in Changlefang, but he couldn't find it..."
Wouldn't that break the clue?
Even when the truth came to light, Li Zhi still had many puzzles about the subtleties of the case.
Li Ji squinted his eyes slightly, thinking that Ma Cheng might have hidden the money in some unknown place just like Wang Tao.
"Your Majesty, later Jia Ping'an suggested to investigate the houses of Ma Cheng's relatives, and found out Ma Cheng's wife and brother..."
Shaopeng thought of the process of master Jia using beautiful men, and couldn't help feeling that the days without eggs were very melancholy.
Yu Zhining frowned and said, "How about Ma Cheng's wife and brother?"
"Little official."
How can a petty official afford such a house? Everyone present understood.
Yu Zhining also suddenly realized, "This is Ma Cheng bought a house and recorded it under the name of his wife and brother, and hid the stolen money in it himself, so no one cares about it. It's a good trick."
There are not many corrupt officials in Datang at the moment, and they have little experience in such methods.
"Jia Ping'an is so unscrupulous..." Li Ji did not hesitate to solicit votes for Master Jia, "Sure enough."
Li Zhi said with a smile: "At the beginning, I thought that he was easy to be used by others with his name as a broom star, so I put him in Baiqi. Who knew that he would make meritorious deeds repeatedly, which surprised me."
At this time, I need to cheer, but Lao Xu is not here, and Li Ji doesn't like bubbling...
Shao Peng gritted his teeth, and took out a document, "Your Majesty, Mr. Xu is still lying at home! I met Mr. Xu's family on the way, and I asked my servant to bring the suicide note."
This matter is a bit taboo, but at the moment the emperor has won a big victory, and he is afraid of Mao.
Li Zhi looked solemn, "Read!"
Wang Zhongliang took the suicide note and recited it aloud.
The general meaning of the suicide note is: I think I, Lao Xu, have been loyal all my life, and I have never ambiguously gone up and down the mountain of swords and seas of fire for Your Majesty. , the only way to prove innocence is to die.
Old Xu's literary talents are undoubtedly good, and a posthumous writing is touching and tearful.
Wang Zhongliang choked out a sob, "I couldn't help crying after reading this."
Li Zhi looked at the prime ministers, and said indifferently: "Xu Jingzong is loyal, what do you think?"
Everyone said in unison: "Yes."
The faces of those who impeached Xu Jingzong turned red at the moment, extremely embarrassed.
The emperor deliberately gave them small shoes to wear.
But if you make a mistake, you will make a mistake. The principle of standing at attention when you are beaten is applicable throughout the ages.
"All the ministers are gone." Li Zhi was in a happy mood and just wanted to go to the harem to let loose. But when he thought of Wang Shi and Xiao Shi, his interest plummeted. Then those long eyebrows that entered the temples slipped through my mind.
The crowd dispersed, and Li Zhi left Shaopeng behind.
"It's a good job."
Li Zhi always praises his confidants.
Shaopeng looked strange, thinking whether to tell the emperor about it.
"Hmm?" Li Zhi snorted coldly when he noticed his melancholy.
Shao Peng sighed in his heart, "Your Majesty, this matter... slaves are guilty."
He knelt down.
"Tell me." Li Zhi felt relaxed, and picked up the jade pendant to play with.
"Jia Ping'an went in and out of Daodefang in private, and the minister did not supervise him strictly, so he is guilty."
Master Jia’s foot ban became a display under the cover of Baiqi!
But Li Zhi is in a good mood now, so he just waved his hands.
Shaopeng felt relieved, "Jia Pingan learned that Ma Cheng doted on his concubine Chen Ling, so he pretended to meet by chance and communicated a few times. Chen Ling accidentally talked about Changle Fang, and then found a clue."
Li Zhi froze holding the jade pendant.
"You mean...he used a beauty trick?" Li Zhi felt that the three views had been refreshed.
Shaopeng nodded, "Yes."
Li Zhi couldn't help covering his forehead, "This broom star is like this... At the beginning, I asked him to be in Baiqi just to watch closely, but who would have thought that he would become more and more capable. If it wasn't for him, Xu Jingzong would definitely be doomed. There will be one less confidant by my side, and the situation will become even more difficult."
yes!
Even Wang Zhongliang felt that Jia Pingan was the mainstay this time.
Li Zhi was pondering, he thought of Wu Mei's evaluation of Jia Pingan, he nodded and said: "How many people like Jia Pingan are there in Baiqili?"
If there are more talents like Jia Pingan in Baiqili, some of his plans can be implemented.
Shao Peng was ashamed, "Your Majesty, there is no one like Jia Ping'an in a hundred rides."
Li Zhi's voice became colder: "In other words, most of the Baiqi are mediocre?"
Shaopeng nodded, and Li Zhi was a little annoyed, "Jia Ping'an, a young man, can stand out from the crowd in Baiqi. It shows how slack you are on weekdays, go back to practice!"
"yes!"
Shaopeng went out and caught up with the prime ministers on the way.
Li Ji was dragged at the end, and he was isolated at first glance.
Changsun Wuji was surrounded by everyone, with extraordinary momentum.
Chu Suiliang couldn't hide his disappointment, "Auxiliary machine, this time the success is on the verge of failure, and it will be difficult to get Xu Jingzong next time."
Changsun Wuji said indifferently: "The person in charge is stupid! He didn't expect to close his hands and clean up the matter. He took the lead in digging a hole by himself, but was easily broken by a clerk in the end. How stupid is that? It's so stupid! "
He looked as usual, but he spoke very seriously, which showed that he was in a bad mood.
Changsun Wuji took a deep breath and asked, "Who hosted it?"
Silence.
"Why can't you say it?" Changsun Wuji was annoyed, "Who is it?"
Chu Suiliang blushed, and said in a low voice, "It's the old man."
…
Jia Ping'an was liberated.
As soon as the door opened, Jiang Rong stood outside. He cupped his hands and said, "Congratulations to Jia Wenshu."
"You're welcome." Jia Ping'an was grounded this time, and Jiang Rong was not too strict in guarding him, and he performed well. Jia Ping'an felt that it was necessary to give a candy, "Please also ask Jiang Fang to go to Xu Shijun's house and tell Xu Shijun , A certain is very good, let him feel at ease."
The soldiers brought by Jiang Rong were startled, thinking that Jia Ping'an used Jiang Rong as a servant too much.
"So-and-so will go right away."
But Jiang Rong was overjoyed, turned around and left.
Fang Zu followed up and asked: "Fang Zheng, this is just for running errands, why are you so happy?"
Jiang Rong said excitedly: "You know what a fart, I went to Xu Shijun's house to pass on a word of mouth. This means that I got to know Xu Shijun, and I have to give a certain face to Chang'an County when I go back! Hahahaha!"
For Jiang Rong, an official fan, it is the happiest thing to be able to visit the senior official's house.
The door next door opened, Wang Dahammer came out, cupped his hands and said, "Congratulations."
"Sledgehammer!" Jia Ping'an laughed and said, "Stop cooking at home this afternoon."
This time, the Wang family provided a springboard for Master Jia to climb over the wall to avoid supervision, which is very loyal.
"good."
Yang Deli was ecstatic. For the first time, he was going to spend money lavishly, which made him feel a little smug.
But before he rode his horse to go shopping, Liu Jia came with people.
"The broom god..."
Having not seen his broom **** for a long time, Liu Jia couldn't help blushing.
Jia Pingan covered his forehead, "There is no broom **** in the Tang Dynasty."
"Yes." Liu Jia said joyfully, "I was overjoyed to learn that the Broom God had cleared his grievances, so I brought some people and prepared some wine and vegetables to celebrate the Broom God."
"I have a heart." In the past, Jia Ping'an always liked to calculate the contributions of both parties clearly, but later gradually realized that it is a good thing to not be able to calculate in many cases.
The cousin, who had no mission, knelt in front of his aunt's memorial tablet and happily reported his work. The people brought by Liu Jia were busy preparing food and drinks...
Outside, those highly respected people from Daodefang were invited. Wang Xueyou looked at this scene and said with emotion: "You are so happy!"
…
The third update of the five consecutive updates!
(end of this chapter)