The Seven Heroes and Five Righteousness of Crossing

The king of Xiangyang is very trustworthy. Last time in Tongxing Tower, he said that he would serve wine for the imperial envoys. Just two days after the Mid-Autumn Festival, he sent a post to invite Yan, Bai, and Gongsun to the palace to talk about each other.He also ordered someone to go to Jinhui's mansion to invite his father and daughter to accompany him. Hearing that the son of Xiongguan General Soldier was also here, they made an appointment together.Shen Zhongyuan and Yuan Cuixiao, both teachers and students, tasted crabs and watched chrysanthemums in the garden, and held an autumn feast in the heat and dryness.

Zhao Jue sits facing south, with Yan Chasan on the west side, the prefect Jin Hui, the guard Bai Yutang, and Gong Sun Ce on the bottom; Ding Zhaohui sits on the east side, Shen Zhongyuan next to him, and then The golden peony, the last seat is that Yuan Cuixiao.

The cold fragrance of autumn chrysanthemum is overflowing, and the fresh fishy smell of crab is alluring. Combined with the gentle and sweet fragrance of red yeast rice, it is a beautiful taste in autumn.Yuan Cuixiao stared at the dishes in front of her and stared silently for a while, suddenly felt that her sense of smell was too developed, which was not entirely a good thing for a senior foodie.Especially when you can smell it but not eat it.The cook in the dining room didn't know whether he was caring for her or just because of her: the pot was obviously filled with sherbet, but the color and luster was similar to that of rice wine, and when it was poured into the cup, it was sticky and hung on the wall.What's even more amazing is that the dough was made into the shape of a crab, wrapped in tangerine peel powder and deep-fried. If you don't look carefully, you can really mistake the real one.Melancholy, she broke off a "crab leg" and chewed it while thinking: It's okay... now I don't even have to spit out the shell...

Zhao Jue raised his glass towards Yan Chasan, and said in a voice: "According to the master of the court, you are young and talented. Although I live in Xiangyang, I have heard of it. I should have done my landlord's friendship early, but my lord has devoted himself to official duties, and the papers are exhausted. It is true." It's inconvenient to disturb. Today, Fang has to join the bottle to promote the table, according to the master of the courtyard, don't think that the king is slow to treat you."

Yan Chasan hurriedly stood up, bowed and said: "How dare you. The prince's words really discouraged the officials. Because of the rampant flood in Dongting Lake, the people in Xiangyang and Jiangling suffered greatly, and the officials ordered to inspect this place. Things, I haven't clarified my eyebrows, so I dare not come to see you."

Zhao Jue nodded with a smile: "Your Honor is so diligent, he is really a capable minister of the country. Although this king is a great Song clan, he is naturally idle. He has not contributed a lot to the country and the people as he has done."

Yuan Cuixiao angrily broke off one of the "claws", thinking: You are self-aware...

Yan Chasan was ridiculed by him, but he didn't panic. He said politely: "The King of Qin followed the (Tai) ancestor to found the country and established the country. Life is respectful. I am an official, eat the king's salary, and take care of the king's worries. It is only a meager effort. I am grateful to the prince for his absurd praise. I am really ashamed."

"Master Yan is really a person with a clear mind." Zhao Jue clapped his hands and asked, "I don't know how the Dongting Lake flood is going?"

Yan Chasan replied: "Before the festival, Bai Huwei and Gongsun Master went to Jiangling, cooperated with Jiang Ping, Jiang Xiaowei, who was trapped in the empty island, and captured a nest of water bandits in Jingmen. The leader of the bandit was named Qiu Ze, and led the crowd to demolish the embankments and dams. , harmed the local people; also harassed the ships and looted the merchants. Now that the statement has been recorded, it will be sent to prison for trial, and it will be sent to Beijing when the river work is completed."

Zhao Jue raised his eyebrows, pretending to be surprised and said, "How dare such a small water bandit act so recklessly? Lord Yan, can you find out if there is someone behind him?"

Yan Chasan replied: "The thieves and bandits have no one to instigate since Chen Chen, but they are motivated by the sight of wealth. Moreover, no one finds out, so it intensifies."

Zhao Juelue pondered and said: "The people of the two places have suffered a lot. Captain Jiang made great contributions to this battle, and the master of the academy came to the banquet. Why didn't he bring this hero here to meet the king?"

Yan Chasan immediately said: "Lieutenant Jiang is still on Jinghu North Road, assisting Jiangling Governor to consolidate the embankment. After the completion of the river project report, the next official should invite the present to recite his merits."

"That should be the case." Zhao Jue stroked his beard, glanced at Jin Hui and said, "Master Jin, according to the master and his party, they have worked tirelessly. As a parent, you should share their worries a lot."

Jin Hui was originally a Minister of the Ministry of War, and his official residence was from the second rank. He was upright and strict. Because of the Guanghua Army's Xuan Yi uprising, he impeached Zhao Jue one after another.When it came to the last book, the officials were furious, and simply relegated him to Xiangzhou. With Zhao Jue, the deadly enemy, he looked up and down.Hearing Zhao Jue's call at this moment, he stood tall and said, "Thank you, my lord, for your suggestion. It is indeed the job of a subordinate official to assist the Master of the Court."

Zhao Jue laughed: "There are two adults who are working hard, and I can live comfortably in Xiangyang." Looking back, he ordered his attendants, "Pour wine with your lords quickly, and I want to toast them."

Yuan Cuixiao sipped the sherbet, and sneered in her heart: Comfortable?Your skin can be thicker...

Zhao Jue drank two cups in succession and said, "My king will enter the age of forty next month. At that time, please don't forget to drink another glass of thin wine."

Yuan Cuixiao was taken aback: Fake father's [-]th birthday?It seems that we still need to prepare a congratulatory gift... As soon as I rolled my eyes, I thought: I embroidered a sachet last time, and he would be very useful.Why don't we embroider some other things this time... It's quick and easy, we're getting smarter...

Jin Hui stood up suddenly and said: "My lord, Lord Yan, I have something important to report to you."

Everyone was surprised.

Yan Chasan reminded him in a low voice: "Lord Jin, if it's official business in the yamen, it would be inappropriate to talk about it here."

"Oh?" A look of surprise flashed across Zhao Jue's face, then he smiled and said, "Lord Jin, it's okay to say."

"Yes." Jin Hui said resolutely, "On the evening of August [-]th, a group of imperial troops from the capital, escorting the prince's birthday plan, went to the prefect's yamen to surrender."

"Ah?!" Yuan Cuixiao was taken aback, and couldn't help but exclaimed, facing Zhao Jue's probing gaze, she hurriedly lowered her head, stuffed a small piece of "crab" into her mouth.

Yan Chasan looked anxious and said, "Lord Jin, what's next?"

Jin Hui went on to say: "I was promoted overnight, and I learned that this team of forbidden troops was ordered by the head of the House of Internal Affairs to escort the birthday gift from the emperor to the Prince's Mansion of Xiping County. When I went to Ruzhou, there were many mountain roads. On the night of the thirteenth day, they passed through the dense forest on the outskirts of Dengcheng and were plotted against by others. Wait until they wake up Come on, the people, chariots and horses are already at the foot of Fulong Mountain, and the other Xiang army and the birthday gang are all missing."

Zhao Jue said lightly: "This is strange. Since ancient times, killing people and getting more goods, how can there be any reason to go half and keep half?"

"Your officer also finds it strange and inexplicable." Jin Hui said with a serious expression, "According to Nadu Guan, the soup, water and dry food were all prepared by the Xiang army on the night of the incident. They were a group of forbidden troops, they drove all the way during the day, and separated into two groups at night. They rested in a carriage, and were escorted by the Xiang army during the night. No one heard anything during the night until they woke up the next morning. Therefore, they all insisted that another group of Xiang army was coveting property, and secretly poured sweat medicine on them. The waiter stole the birthday card."

There was silence for a moment.

After a while, Zhao Jue sighed and said, "Everyone, what do you think of this matter?"

Yan Chasan held his hand and said: "Go back to the prince, I'm afraid there is something strange about it."

Zhao Jue nodded in agreement: "According to the master's insight, this king also thinks so."

Yuan Cuixiao raised his forehead: You two are really the bigger the official, the more nonsense you talk... I quietly looked at the other acquaintances, and saw the bamboo spirit on the opposite side slowly stand up, cupped his hands and saluted: "My lord, My lords, from what I have seen, the words of the Forbidden Army seem to be extremely reasonable, but in fact they cannot be trusted."

Zhao Jue asked eagerly, "Why? Please tell me, Lord Gongsun."

Gongsun Ce analyzed: "According to what the Forbidden Army said, they traveled to Ruzhou. Because of the rugged mountain road and fear of encountering bandits, they improvised and borrowed Xiangjun from the local government to accompany them. Ruzhou is less than two hundred kilometers away from Dengcheng. In recent days, there has been no extreme weather. Even if the road conditions are not good and they are carrying heavy loads, they will travel day and night, at most six or seven days, and they should arrive. A team of Xiangjun is only 12 people, and they don’t know how to escort them before departure. It is unbelievable that He Wu, in just a few days, managed to commit crimes under the watchful eyes of the well-trained imperial guards and succeed in one fell swoop."

Bai Yutang added: "Your Excellency Gongsun is right. How could you know that this team of imperial guards is not playing tricks and stealing from themselves?"

"What the two adults said is not without reason." Zhao Jue cast his eyes on Jin Hui, "Master Jin, do you understand what to do?"

Jin Hui straightened his back and said: "I understand. After I go back, I will separate and detain the thirteen imperial guards. They will be interrogated one by one and questioned in detail."

Ding Zhaohui interjected, "I believe that the Longevity Storehouse in the city must be informed. If there is someone pledging stolen goods, it is necessary to report to the authorities immediately."

Yuan Cuixiao suddenly thought of the bamboo newspaper safety pendant that cost 300 taels of silver, and felt disappointed.

An imperceptible smile flashed across Zhao Jue's eyes, he nodded and said, "What Mr. Ding said is true."

Gongsun Ce said again: "I don't know where this gift list is now? If it has been damaged, send people to the capital's internal affairs office to check the records at this moment. If it comes and goes, I'm afraid it will be delayed."

Jin Hui said: "The gift list has always been kept by the imperial guards, but it is intact."

Zhao Jue asked, "Did Lord Jin ever bring him with you?"

Jin Hui took out a stack of jade paper from the bottom of his sleeve, and put it forward with both hands: "My lord, please."

Zhao Jue winked, motioning for the attendant to take it, held it in his hand, and flipped through the pages.For a moment, he said in a dejected tone: "The official family really cares deeply for my uncle! Alas... alas... it's a pity..."

Yuan Cuixiao had a sip of sherbet in his mouth, and when he said "use the deepest affection", he made a "pop" and sprayed it all over the case.

Hearing the sound, Zhao Jue cast a warning look.

Yan Chasan and Jin Hui looked at each other, and said in unison: "My lord, don't worry, I will do my best to supervise the case."

Zhao Jue nodded: "Then I will thank you, my lords." He looked at Yuan Cuixiao again, and saw that she was poking her head and her face was almost stuck in the bowl, so he brushed the gift list and said, "Although the gift is gone I'll talk about it if I can't find it. But I have to keep in mind the official's intentions. Lord Jin, let me borrow a copy of this gift list for the time being, and return it at the door tomorrow. How about it? "

Jin Hui replied: "My lord, please go ahead, I have no objection."

"Cuixiao." Zhao Jue said softly.

Yuan Cuixiao's heart turned cold, she suddenly raised her head and said, "Father."

Zhao Jue held up the gift slip in his hand to her, and said with a smile, "This calligraphy is very good, you can take it home and copy it."

Yuan Cuixiao slandered endlessly: Apart from punishing copying, can you still come up with some creative tricks... A disheartened "Yes".

Zhao Jue looked at Shen Zhongyuan and said, "Mr. Shen, do you have any insights? Let's talk about it together."

Shen Zhongyuan stood up, and said humbly: "My lords have done their analysis in a reasonable way, and my subordinates don't dare to play tricks on others."

Yan Chasan had heard the name "Little Zhuge" a long time ago, and when he saw it today, he was indeed handsome and elegant, but he was a bright pearl secretly cast, so he couldn't help but feel pity for each other, so he bowed his head and said, "Mr. Shen, what's your opinion? Hope to teach you.”

Shen Zhongyuan held his hand in return: "How dare you. I feel that if the thief sells the stolen goods, he might give it to someone else."

Zhao Jue raised his eyebrows slightly, raised his wine glass and said, "Come on, don't talk about spoiling things anymore, let's drink, drink."

Everyone had their own thoughts, and the atmosphere fell into a dull moment.

Zhao Jue wandered around the banquet, settled on Ding Zhaohui, and asked, "If this king remembers correctly, Mr. Ding's father and Mr. Jin have worked together in the Ministry of War?"

Ding Zhaohui nodded and said: "Return to the lord, it is true."

Zhao Jue turned his face and said to Jin Hui again: "So, Mr. Jin, the two of you are family friends?"

Jin Hui thought to himself: The treacherous king hates me to the bone. If he agrees with the friendship between the two families, I wonder if it will be detrimental to his nephew... Then he thought again: Ding Ao has passed away for a long time, and now there is no one in the Ding family serving in the court, so what's the matter? Fear... also nodded and said: "Exactly."

Zhao Jue turned to Ding Zhaohui, and asked enthusiastically, "Master Ding, have you ever been married?"

Why is the fake father gossiping like this... Yuan Cuixiao irritably turned the glass between her fingers, feeling a little uneasy in her heart.

Ding Zhaohui didn't know what kind of medicine he was selling in the gourd, so he shook his head and replied, "My lord, I'm not married yet."

Zhao Jue said with a smile: "Mr. Ding is a master of martial arts, and Jin Taishou's daughter is a lady, with a good sense of style. The two of you can be called talented and beautiful. They are very suitable. Why don't you let me protect this big matchmaker? What do you think? ?”

When Jin Mudan heard this, her face was already blushing.

Although Jin Hui and Zhao Jue were not on the same page, they were on the same side at the moment.

Everyone at the banquet looked at Ding Zhaohui with burning eyes.