"Gaoyang County Duke is so respected and high in the government, but he still refuses to repay his debts. Let's judge and judge!"
Hearing the loud noise coming from the outer palace, Xu Jing's face fell like water, and he looked at the servants on his left and right: "Eldest brother went out to gamble again?"
The servants looked at each other in shock, but did not dare not to answer, and said: "Dalang was in the chicken house in the West City, betting on cockfights, and lost a lot of money. He wanted to escape, but was caught by the master of the chicken house, and signed the IOU...
…”
Xu Jing didn't want to hear any more and asked directly: "How much do you owe this time?"
The servant's voice was so low that it was almost inaudible: "Two thousand coins."
Xu Jing's eyes widened and he was furious: "Two thousand min? He just lost more than a thousand min last month, and his family didn't have that much cash to redeem his family. Did he think that the whole family would no longer have to live, and it would all be left to him alone?
Go gamble!!”
One thousand coins is consistent. One thousand coins is equivalent to about two thousand yuan in future generations. Two thousand coins is four million yuan. It is not difficult for the Gaoyang County Government to come up with this money. What is difficult is that it cannot afford it.
It's a loss like this, not to mention the expense of both the top and bottom, and it's not just for one person.
So Xu Jing said flatly: "There are only a few cockfights, and the debt is two thousand yuan. Does it think that I, the Duke of Gaoyang, are easy to deceive, and that nine out of ten bets and nine deceives, let the people in this chicken house get out..."
The servant hurried to deliver the message, and then a very sad cry came from outside the house: "The nobles of the high family are fighting for money with the untouchables of the city!!"
Xu Jing's expression changed slightly, and he had a bad secret. As expected, the messenger quickly rushed in in panic: "Sanlang, those people are going to die in front of my house, and they have already mutilated themselves with sharp knives!"
Xu Jing's hands were shaking with anger.
In these days, due to the serious illness of the saint, the Queen Mother regained power. With the help of her father Xu Jingzong's connections in the past, he, a doctor from the Ministry of Industry, also became a new noble in the court, with unlimited fame.
Unexpectedly, just a few days after his good days, he would be bullied to the door by a gangster. However, after his chest heaved violently, he still waved his hand: "Go get the money saved at home!"
After the commotion, the outside of the mansion finally became quiet. The servants came out of the red door and began to wash away the blood on the ground. Xu Jing also walked out, his face extremely ugly.
In fact, similar methods are common in history. For example, it is recorded in "Taiping Yulan" that some families who failed to repay their debts asked their children to take Gelsemium elegans, also known as gallbladder, to the creditor's door and swallow it orally to commit suicide, and then falsely accused them.
The creditor killed someone out of resentment. In the end, the creditor couldn't afford to offend him and had no choice but to stop pursuing the debt. He is the ultimate deadbeat.
When desperadoes deal with some wealthy families who have failed to repay their debts, blood is often spattered on the other side's door. After all, those who are barefoot are not afraid of those who wear shoes.
In a sense, this is a trick to compare who is more ruthless. In terms of power, Xu Furuo is naturally not comparable to ordinary people in the city, but those who can run cockfights are not ordinary people either. They often have backgrounds higher than those of brothels.
Be tough.
After all, the social atmosphere of the Tang Dynasty was to be competitive, but they could not fight all the time. Cockfighting was particularly suitable for this demand. It is not an exaggeration to make money every day in the famous cockfighting ring in Beijing. Without the support of the power behind it, the prodigal would have been defeated long ago.
The child was smashed.
Now that they dare to block the door with the deferred payment of the painting, they are not afraid that the Xu Mansion will default on its debt. After all, the debtor is Xu Ang, the Duke of Gaoyang County who inherited the title.
Thinking of his brother Xu Ang, Xu Jing had a severe headache.
Back then, he stole his maid and was sent to Lingnan, which made his younger brothers the laughingstock of the family. There were many dirty things in the high family, but when exposed, it was a sign of incompetence.
Later, his father finally cared that he was the eldest son and pardoned Xu Ang from Lingnan. He also arranged for a county magistrate to be appointed as a county magistrate. However, Xu Ang was devastated by the experience of being demoted to Lingnan. He was soon dismissed from office after being convicted, and then became
A complete dandy.
Thinking that if he continued to lose like this, he would have no money to hold a banquet, Xu Jing gritted his teeth. Seeing that the young man in charge was so troubled, the slave next to him also admonished: "Sanlang, you can't let the big man do this anymore."
If the bet continues, we have to ask the Ministry of Punishment and Dali Temple to come forward!"
Xu Jing said angrily: "Those dormitories have been organized for a long time, and they do not violate the laws of the Tang Dynasty. They set up a trap for my eldest brother to get into them. Can the Ministry of Punishment and Dali Temple also ban the cockfighting ring?"
Haonu said: "But Dalang has been losing more and more recently. It seems that those people have tasted the sweetness. In this way, the house will eventually be unbearable..."
Xu Jing felt helpless: "So what?"
Now that Xu Jingzong has passed away, his wife has died of illness a long time ago, otherwise she would not have renewed her relationship later, and was stolen by her son. Xu Ang, who is in his fifties, is actually the eldest in the family, and he has a title. Xu Jing can only dream of it.
His elder brother went to reunite with his father, but this idler, cockfighting and prostitute was in very good health and seemed to be able to live longer than his younger brother...
Xu Jing was so angry that his liver ached, and the noble slave beside him hesitated to speak, but finally said: "I received several greeting invitations in the past few days, and they were received by Meihua Neiwei Mingge. Sanlang rejected them, but do you still remember them?"
Xu Jingdao: "Of course I remember that during the great disaster in the pass in the past, this person was the one who made suggestions to the late emperor and slandered the Queen Mother a lot. How can I have contact with him in my house?"
Haonu tried to say: "Although I am not fluent in writing, I also know that the leader of the Ming Pavilion has submitted several invitations to pay homage. Since this person intends to curry favor, why don't Sanlang give him a chance? At least suppress this matter first..."
Xu Jing waved his hand: "You think too simply. People like this can use it as soon as they want and throw it away as soon as they want. Once they get entangled, it will be difficult to let go. It's better to ignore the greeting card!"
Haonu shut his mouth.
After leaving the mansion, this person transformed into a secret agent of the Meihua Internal Guard. He knelt down on one knee in front of Ming Chongyan and said, "I'm going to tell the deputy cabinet chief that Xu Jing is still lucky and unwilling to give in!"
Ming Chongyan smiled: "It seems that there is still some money left in the house. It doesn't matter. I can lure Xu Ang to lose two thousand yuan in three days."
…
Five days later.
Xu Jing stood in front of the mansion to greet him with great enthusiasm: "Rare guest! What a rare guest! It's so wonderful to trouble Mingge to lead you!"
Ming Chongyan raised his palms in salute: "Mr. Xu, you're welcome!"
When he arrived at the main hall where he received intimate guests, Ming Chongyan waved his hand, and the Taoist attendant handed him something: "A small gift is not a sign of respect!"
Xu Jing took it and looked at it, his face couldn't help showing joy, because it was exactly the IOU written by Xu Ang, and Ming Chongyan's words made him even more satisfied: "I and other Meihua guards are not elegant, but
It is enough to deal with the people in the market. Those gambling and cheating people dare to offend Duke Xu, so I have already punished them!"
Xu Jing cupped his hands and said, "I really want to thank Mingge for taking it!"
Ming Chongyan returned the courtesy: "It's just a small effort. Don't call me the leader of the cabinet anymore. Let me call you doctor, a poor doctor and a foreigner!"
Xu Jing suddenly realized that after his meritorious service in Jiangnan, this man had been promoted to the rank of fifth-rank imperial court official. He was a casual official, and his real power was still in Meihua Neiwei. But from what he meant, he was obviously planning to step out of the seemingly powerful position of Meihua Neiwei.
But a pit with no future.
It's a pity that this person doesn't know that the Queen Mother has always been vindictive. She once offended the Queen Mother so much, but now I'm afraid it's too late to abandon the dark side and turn to the bright side.
Xu Jing felt a sense of superiority in his heart that he had succeeded in joining the team, and he was no longer so afraid of the Meihua internal guards.
Fundamentally speaking, these organizations are extensions of the imperial power. As long as the Queen Mother controls the imperial power, what are the Plum Blossom Internal Guards? They should have been summoned long ago, and the family will not be troubled by Xu Ang these days.
However, Xu Jing was taught by Xu Jingzong that the city was quite deep, so he thought so in his heart. On the surface, he remained polite, and even started chatting with Ming Chongyan. After a few glasses of wine, the distance between the two quickly narrowed.
When the wine was full, Ming Chongyan suddenly whispered: "I want Xu Sanlang to know that my brother was in Jiliao and was insulted by the merchant. In desperation, he spoke unscrupulously and said some slanderous words about the late emperor.
, you must never do this again!”
Xu Jing was stunned at first, and then turned pale with shock. His brother had slandered the late emperor. I'm afraid the topic couldn't get around my mother. She hurriedly said: "Thank you, Doctor Ming! My brother's nonsense must not be spread!"
Ming Chongyan said: "Mr. Xu, please rest assured that the people present will not publicize it. However, since my brother is a promiscuous person, it is better for him to live in his house."
Xu Jing grinded his teeth: "He is my brother and a second-grade Duke. How can I keep him trapped in the house for a long time? Then I will be played by Yushitai!"
Ming Chongyan said in a low voice: "But the more he spoke, the more outrageous he became. He also said that as a great scholar, he actually gave his daughter as a concubine, causing great embarrassment to the family..."
Xu Jing was already resentful of his brother, and became even more furious after hearing this: "Is he crazy? Isn't it enough to ruin his reputation? How can the lady in my house become a concubine?"
Ming Chongyan sighed again: "Brother Ling was very clever in what he said. He even said that in order to curry favor with the eldest son, he gave the son of the former Zhao Guogong as a concubine. The poor Taoist was frightened after hearing this!"
Xu Jing's anger solidified, and he suddenly looked thoughtful, murmuring: "Take the Sun family as my concubine? Why do I seem to have heard of this somewhere?"
The goal is about to be achieved. Ming Chongyan seems to be drinking, but in fact he is holding his breath and waiting for the answer to be revealed.
However, Xu Jing recalled carefully, his eyes trembled, and he suddenly stood up and pointed at Ming Chongyan: "So that's it, you are here to make excuses to catch the Queen Mother? Let me tell you, the matter of He Lan Minzhi is over, Meihua Nei
Wei Xiu wants to cause trouble again!"
Ming Chongyan was stunned: "Duke Zhou? What does this have to do with him?"
Xu Jing stared over and saw that his shock did not seem to be fake, and his expression relaxed slightly. He frowned and said, "Is my eldest brother really so stupid? Doing other people's things happen to his own family?"
Ming Chongyan's eyes moved slightly, knowing that he had completely remembered it, so he stood up pretending to be unhappy: "The poor man tried to persuade me with good words, but Mr. Xu had many doubts and left!"
Xu Jing hurriedly apologized: "Doctor Ming, calm down! Calm down! I was just impulsive when I drank and said the wrong thing..."
After trying to calm Ming Chongyan down, he sat down and said in a cold voice: "Won't Xu Sanlang give Pindao an explanation? What happened to Helan Minzhi just mentioned?"
Xu Jing thought for a while and said: "It doesn't matter if we talk about it. The so-called marrying a girl as a concubine was definitely not something my father did, but something done by another great scholar. Did the Ming officials know about Yang Sijian and Duke Yang? He was
He is also as famous as my father, a Confucian scholar who is famous throughout the court, and a fellow practitioner of "Yaoshan Jade Color"!"
Ming Chongyan's pupils shrank suddenly, and he suddenly understood why He Lan Minzhi was mentioned.
He knew Yang Sijian very well. Back then, Li Zhi ordered him to deliberately approach the prince, use the method of soul-calling to lure out the soul of the former princess, and reveal Helan Minzhi's evil deeds.
Later, this matter was not successful, because Helan Minzhi went crazy, stitched himself into the Tathagata Buddha statue, and exposed his evil deeds. Ming Chongyan even stepped forward to stop him, but in the end he did not dare to kill the first-class Duke.
And the father of the former crown princess who was killed by He Lan Minzhi was Yang Sijian.
Ming Chongyan took a deep breath and asked puzzledly: "Mr. Yang has a clean reputation, how could he marry a girl into the Changsun family as a concubine?"
Xu Jingdao: "Mr. Yang has two daughters. The eldest lady is elegant and beautiful, which makes people forget the worldliness at first sight. However, she fell in love with Changsun Chong. The consort could not continue his marriage and could only take concubines. Even so, she still wanted to join the Changsun family.
In the end, Yang Sijian couldn't stand up to his daughter and agreed anyway. I, Aye, commented at the time that he, a great scholar, had lost all his face due to his love for his children, and I was quite disdainful of this!"
Ming Chongyan said solemnly: "I didn't expect such twists and turns, but why has this matter never been mentioned?"
Xu Jing whispered: "Not many people knew about this matter. They married girls secretly. The Changsun family has not publicized it widely. As for later...Did Dr. Ming forget? Yang Gong's little wife later got married...cough
Well, the insiders knew it tacitly, and over time no one mentioned it, so why did my eldest brother suddenly think of this?"
Ming Chongyan frowned and murmured: "If the father of 'Zuoming' is him, that's wrong... Hasn't Yang Sijian died of illness a long time ago?"
Thinking of the method he used to summon souls back then, a chill went straight to the heavenly spirit.