Qin Official

In the first ten days of the twelfth lunar month in the thirty-first year of Qin Shihuang, the weather was cold, but it had not yet reached the point of snowing, and the sky was still dark. In Pei County, Sishui County, a small official residence had lights on, and the lights were on in the backyard. There was also a neighing sound in the stable, probably the servants were loading the carriages for the horses. .

When the white fish belly appears in the east, under the wooden plaque with the word "Xiao Zhai" written on it, the door opens, and two horses come out. One is dressed in black, wears a magpie tail crown, has a long beard, and is forty years old. The middle-aged officials above and below were sitting in public. Behind him were two servants and an ox cart carrying gifts. Judging from his appearance, he was going out for a banquet.

But the carriage had just reached the street. Next to Xiao's house, the door of the house with "Cao's house" written on it creaked open, revealing a small official who was also dressed in black, wearing a warrior's crown and a short beard. He stopped the carriage, raised his hands to the people in the carriage and said:

"Brother Xiao, it's really early."

The officials in the car also stood up solemnly and got out of the car to return the salute: "Brother Cao, it's not too late either."

The two men in the car were named Xiao He. They were the chief officials of Pei County. They were in charge of the advancement and retreat of local officials. Their status was second only to Ling, Cheng and Wei. The man under the car is called Cao Shen. He is the jailer of Peixian County and specializes in judicial and prison work.

Cao Shen said: "Today is a holiday for officials, but Brother Xiao left home so early. Could it be that he is going to Liu Ji's wedding?"

He seemed to like and hate Liu Ji at the same time, and laughed and scolded: "Liu Ji, who used to be a ranger, is now just fighting for food. Not only was he lucky enough to marry Lu Gong's daughter, but he also allowed Brother Xiao to deign to attend the banquet. It's really What a great honor!”

Xiao He nodded and said: "My home is in Fengyi, and I have been friends with Liu Ji for many years. Since he personally visited me and invited me to be the person to officiate the wedding, it's hard not to go."

Everyone said that marrying the Lu family's daughter to the old bachelor Liu Ji was like flowers stuck in dog excrement, but Xiao He had his own ideas. Whenever others asked him what he thought, Xiao He just said lightly: "Mr. Lu is like this." If you do it, it is natural for Lu Gong to do it."

Fengyi is dozens of miles away to the west of Peixian County. It's a day's journey. Xiao He has to set off immediately, otherwise he will not be able to catch up with the wedding tomorrow evening.

However, Cao Shen stopped Xiao He, shook his head and said: "I also accepted Liu Ji's invitation. I originally wanted to go with Brother Xiao, but today, I'm afraid neither you nor I can leave!"

Xiao He wondered: "Why?"

Cao Shen said: "When I was on duty at the county temple last night, the county monarch sent a chief official to inform me that a high official from the border area was going to pass through Pei County and stay overnight. You and I must accompany the county monarch to receive him and we will not be absent!"

Peixian County is located on the bank of Surabaya River. You can go down the river to Pengcheng and Donghai County, go to Qi and Lu in the north, and connect to Liang and Song in the west. It can be said that it is a place with connections in all directions, and officials often come and go.

Officials at the county level can be received by the pavilion. But if a county-level official passes by, the magistrate of Pei County will come out to receive him attentively. Xiao He is not only the chief official and the right-hand man of the county magistrate, but also the representative of the powerful and powerful family in the county. Naturally, he is indispensable for every reception.

Xiao He frowned. Although he was unwilling to break his promise, he could not offend the county magistrate, so he had to ask his servant to drive to Fengyi and tell Liu Ji that he might not arrive until tomorrow afternoon.

"Brother Xiao, are you planning to rush there overnight after the entertainment?"

Cao Shen was surprised that Xiao He cared so much about Liu Ji. When Liu Ji went to serve, everyone gave him three hundred coins, but Xiao He gave five hundred coins. Now he is more willing to brave the cold wind.

Xiao He just smiled:

"I have said that if a husband makes a promise lightly, he will be distrustful, and everything that is easy will be difficult. Even though he is just a small official, he is not willing to lose the foundation of the Tao easily. By the way, the big official in the border area you mentioned, Where are you going to take up your post, and what kind of official position do you want to be?"

Although Cao Shen always regarded Xiao He as a role model, after all, he was slightly younger than Xiao He, and he had served as a thief. He was a powerful man, so he said with excitement: "Speaking of this person, he is famous! Brother Xiao still remembers those who went there last year After the corvettes who served in Guanzhong and Saibei returned to Pei County, who was mentioned most often?"

The citizens of Peixian County went to Xianyang and Shangjun to work hard and transport grain. Ten of them died and ten were left behind. Only about thirty people were brought back by Liu Ji. Liu Ji, who was usually boastful, was not very willing to mention this matter this time. Others can't control that much. The people they miss the most, besides the young master Fusu who left a virtuous reputation among the people, are the three generals who patrolled the streets with meritorious service.

Among them, Heifu, who was born in the capital of Guizhou, is the most respected by those in the capital of Guizhou...

Xiao He is very good at analysis, and the answers he gave are accurate.

Cao Shen raised his hand and said: "It is this general, it is said, he is the most trusted minister by the emperor. Now he has been appointed as the governor of Jiaodong County. He is going to take up the post with great ambition!"

…

"When I go to Jiaodong County from Xianyang to take up my post, I have to pass through Sanchuan, go through Dongjun, Jibei, and Linzi, all the way to Jimo. Why does the Jiaodong governor want to go far away from me and pass by Peixian County?"

At noon, the magistrate of Peixian County was waiting with officials of all sizes at the south gate of Peixian County, but Cao Shen was still puzzled.

After Xiao He calculated in his mind, he whispered: "I heard that the county guard is from Nanjun. He should have returned home and came from Chenjun or Jiujiang County, so he entered through the south gate. Furthermore, he came back from Chenjun or Jiujiang County. , he will only stay for one day, and will go north to Xue County tomorrow. It seems that time is running out..."

This is in line with common sense. Cao Shen nodded and admired Xiao He's meticulousness. No wonder he was trusted by the county magistrate.

Xiao He started as the county magistrate's secretary "Wen Wuhai" and was good at writing, law and official affairs. He not only knew the situation of Sishui County and Pei County well, but also had some knowledge of other counties.

He knew that Jiaodong County was one of the four counties separated from Qi State, with the sea to the east and north, Langya to the south, and Linzi to the west. Although it is the easternmost county in the empire, it has a large population, with more than 100,000 households and a population of 700,000 to 800,000! Although it is not as good as Linzi, which is guarded by General Wang Ben, it is still a large county, with a population three times that of Beidi County!

The economy of Jiaodong is also good. It is rich in mountains and seas, and is rich in salt and iron. It is the main producing area of ​​sea salt and fish in the Central Plains. However, I heard that pirates and thieves have been breeding along the coast recently, which has caused a lot of trouble. And the local powerful family is powerful. Xiao He is in Pei County, also heard a little bit.

"That's why the imperial court sent a decisive and powerful official to govern..." Xiao He thought.

There was little information these days. Although Xiao He and others did not know Heifu's performance in the war between Qin and Chu, they learned some of Heifu's deeds from the corvee who went to serve in Guanzhong. Including how he and Li Xin defeated the Xiongnu, and "brought warmth" to the soldiers and corvees at the beginning of winter. Even the rumor that Hei Fu liked men with beautiful beards spread like wildfire and was talked about by people.

In short, in the impression of Xiao He and Cao Shen, this was a capable official and close minister that they could not reach.

While he was thinking about it, the person who was sent to wait at Shiliting came back out of breath: "The County Lord, the Sheriff of Jiaodong County, are approaching the south gate!"

"Stand up straight, stand up straight!" Magistrate Pei quickly asked the officials to tidy up their clothes and prepare drinks to catch the wind and wash away the dust.

Although Jiaodong and Sishui County are separated by hundreds of miles, and the governor of Nawei County cannot come to Peixian County, there is no need to be so flattering, but Heifu is the emperor's favorite minister, and maybe a word can change the county-level officials. Peiling didn't dare to displease his fate.

Not long after, dozens of knights appeared on the road, all riding Hexi horses. Although they were wearing commoners, just by looking at the swords hanging on their waists and the crossbows on their backs, you could tell that they were from the military. With a high-spirited look, he was probably a retainer of the Jiaodong County Sheriff.

The knights galloped to the city gate and left in groups, revealing the fleet behind them. It may carry books or attachés. The largest car among them has a black hood and the barriers on both sides are painted red. This is the exclusive car for senior officials of Bi2000 and Liangqianshi. Under the canopy, there is a man in black clothes. , a black-faced official wearing a crown...

"All the officials in Peixian County have seen Shaoshang Zao!"

Magistrate Pei, the Prime Minister, and the Lieutenant immediately came towards him and bowed to him, but the Jiaodong County Sheriff only slightly bowed his hands.

After the car stopped for a while, it continued to drive into the city under the guidance of Magistrate Pei. However, Heifu's eyes glanced at the officials of Pei County beside the road. Even inadvertently, it fell on Xiao He, who was standing at the front of the officials. However, he only glanced lightly, smiled again, and continued to laugh and chat with Magistrate Pei, who was honored to be able to board the carriage.

Xiao He, Cao Shen and other Cao Baishi officials lined up on both sides, bowed and saluted. After the carriage and horse passed by, Cao Shen raised his head and said in surprise: "You are so young, and you are made for a young master, and you are worth two thousand stones!?"

If he read correctly, the county governor was only around thirty, and he felt a little ashamed when he was stroking his large beard.

It would be fine if he were the second generation descendant of Grandfather Yin, but this County Sheriff actually climbed up from the head of Guizhou step by step. How did he do it? Cao Shen thought back to the years when he was 20 to 30 years old. He still lived in a muddle-headed way, practicing martial arts or studying literature, both of which were quite good, but achieved nothing. After Qin destroyed Chu, although he became a chief official of Cao and was respectfully called "Cao Yubu" by the county people, he was nothing compared to the governor of Jiaodong.

Xiao He was silent for a moment, and then said softly: "I have been poor for a long time, but there are no such people in this world, even though they are virtuous. How can it be so difficult to live in this world? In my opinion, the governor of Wei County is very young. Such an achievement is not only due to his outstanding talent, but also because he met the Master of Ming at the right time. But as for meeting or not meeting him, God, how can we compare with him?"

This is Huang Lao's point of view. Xiao He comes from a well-off family and has learned a lot. Cao Shen nodded, seeming to understand, but at this time, a Wei accent sounded behind him.

"How long has it been since we were poor? This county official said it right."

When the two of them looked back, they saw a young scholar dressed in commoner clothes and with a turban on his head, but with a handsome appearance.

The scholar followed Xiao He's words and said: "Lu Wang was Zang Jijin. When he was seventy years old, he slaughtered an ox in Chaoge. He was respected as the emperor's teacher. He met Zhou Wenye. Guan Yiwu was restrained by the corvee, and he released the weapon and became the prime minister of the princes. Meet Huan of Qi. Baili Xi feeds five sheep, herds cattle for the uncle, releases the cattle and becomes a court official, meets Mu of Qin. Sun Shuao comes out from the land of salt and brine on the seashore to become Ling Yin, meets Chuzhuang..."

"The Commander is here today because he met you at the right time!"

He seemed to be talking about Heifu, but also seemed to be talking about himself...

This man came with the Jiaodong County Sheriff's vehicle, but got off the bus at the city gate. He planned to visit Peixian County by himself, but happened to be walking to the side and heard Xiao He's words.

Xiao He and Cao Shen did not dare to neglect and raised their hands to him: "May I ask who you are, sir?"

The scholar raised his sleeve and said, "I am Chen Ping. I am the gatekeeper of Wei County. I am disturbing your land. I am being polite here!"

After saying this, he raised his head again, with a harmless smile on his handsome face: "What the county official said just now was Huang Lao's words, right? It's a coincidence, Huang Lao is the best!"