Three days later, a team arrived at the foot of Mount Li, led by several civil servants wearing brand new official uniforms.
I saw these civil servants and their guards traveling by familiar roads all the way to the top of the hill occupied by the Shaofu, and then I listened.
The leader said loudly: "The Prime Minister of Zhongshu Province, Bai Xiaolou, is here to pay a special visit to Mr. Lin of the Shaofu. Please come out and see Mr. Lin to hand over official duties."
After hearing the noise, Marlow was the first to run out of the camp. When he saw Bai Xiaolou, he cupped his hands with a smile on his face and said, "It turns out that Mr. Bai from Zhongshu Province has arrived. Mr. Bai, why don't you send someone to say hello first?
So that the official can go and greet him."
Bai Xiaolou said with a reserved expression: "Mr. Ma, you are too polite. In terms of official position, I am only the third rank, which is half a rank lower than the second rank. How can I bother you to welcome Mr. Ma?"
Having said that, his tone and demeanor all showed a condescending air.
Marlow couldn't help but secretly complained, if it weren't for the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China to evaluate all officials, labor and management wouldn't be bothered to serve you, but he said with a smile on his face: "That's right, Mr. Bai has a bright future, and he will be able to surpass the lower ranks just around the corner."
Bai Xiaolou glanced at Ma Luo helpfully, and then said, "Okay, let's get down to business first. Where is the young master?"
Marlow hurriedly replied: "Master Bai, wait a moment, I will go and ask Master Lin to come out."
After saying that, he bowed his hands and without any hesitation, walked all the way to where Lin Ze lived.
He shouted from a distance: "Mr. Lin, the lord of Zhongshu Province has arrived and is waiting for you outside."
After shouting several times in succession, a bad old man staggered out and said: "Stop shouting, my master is not here. He went out to practice martial arts early in the morning."
Marlow quickly asked: "Do you know where Mr. Lin has gone? Can you send a message to ask him to come back? The adults from Zhongshu Province are waiting for him."
The old man said angrily: "I don't know where my adults have gone. Anyway, they will be back in half an hour at most. Let them wait. Besides, in addition to the prime minister and deputy prime minister, the officials of Zhongshu Province also
Can anyone be as big as a young man’s house?”
Marlow said eagerly: "That's different. The Lord of Zhongshu Province usually represents the Prime Minister's face, so you can't neglect it."
The old man became more and more disdainful: "How can a sinister villain like Li Si have any dignity?"
Marlowe...there are such arrogant servants in the world, aren't they afraid of bringing trouble to their master?
However, Marlow had no idea at all. He waited for a few seconds and then turned away. No matter what, he wanted to appease the people in Zhongshu Province first.
…
"You said no one is here?" At the gate, Bai Xiaolou, who had been impatient to wait, turned completely dark now, and said in a cold voice: "Young master, you dare to leave your post without permission, it's too arrogant.
"
But he didn't realize at all that he, a minister, said such words, which made him look even more presumptuous.
Marlow felt bitter in his heart, and forced a smile and said: "Master Bai, please go in with me to have a rest, have a cup of tea, how about waiting for a while?"
Bai Xiaolou remembered that he was on official business, his face twitched, and he walked in without saying a word.
…
Half an hour later, a figure floated from the air and landed in the courtyard. It was Lin Ze who had returned from martial arts practice.
Just as he was about to step into his room, the old man who had been talking to Marlow said: "Sect Master, the man named Ma just came to see you and said that someone from Zhongshu Province has come and wants you to come over."
Lin Ze smiled bitterly when he heard this and said: "Uncle Dongfang, I have told you many times, the teacher is still in the world, and it is not my turn to take the position of leader of Fang Xiandao."
The old man in front of him was the one Lin Ze had fished out of the prison earlier. Junior Brother Xu Fu, named Dongfang He, was the deputy of Qintian Prison before he was imprisoned by Xu Fu, also known as the second-in-command.
After the old man was rescued by Lin Ze, he stuck to Lin Ze and called him the master of Fang Xiandao, but it gave Lin Ze a headache for a while.
Sure enough, Dongfang He said with a serious face: "Xu Fu is now a traitor to the sect, how can he be qualified to assume the position of the sect leader? Is the sect leader afraid that those elders will not support you? The sect leader can rest assured that as long as I am here, they will not be allowed to be arrogant.
"
It didn't make sense, and since he couldn't fight, Lin Ze had no choice but to use his unique "Escape Technique" and said quickly: "Uncle, please take good care of your health. My nephew will go meet the people from Zhongshu Province first."
As soon as Lin Ze finished speaking, he disappeared.
Dongfang He looked at the direction Lin Ze was leaving, and with a rare smile he said to himself: "Boy, I can't believe it. The less you want to be the leader of this sect, the more elders will support you."
…
As soon as Lin Ze stepped into the living room, he heard a strange and sinister voice saying: "This new young master is quite assertive. I haven't seen anyone after waiting for so long. Is he deliberately looking down on me, Zhongshu Province?"
?”
Lin Ze's face darkened and he retorted: "Where did the dead eunuch come from and talk nonsense here?"
As soon as Lin Ze opened his mouth, he attracted the attention of everyone in the hall.
When Marlow saw him walking in, his eyes lit up and he came over and said, "Sir, you are finally back. Master Bai and the others have been waiting for more than half an hour."
Lin Ze glanced at Bai Xiaolou, who was sitting unmoving on the main seat, and asked, "What's the matter?"
At this time, Bai Xiaolou spoke first: "It's a big deal. The young master is really kind and urgent. There is no one around for urgent business. Are you worthy of His Majesty's attention?"
Lin Ze looked straight at Bai Xiaolou and said in a surprised tone: "Oh, who is this father-in-law?"
Only then did Bai Xiaolou understand who Lin Ze was referring to when he came in and said "dead eunuch". His face turned red and he said, "I, the Minister of the Zhongshu Province, Bai Xiaolou, am not a eunuch in the palace."
The look of surprise on Lin Ze's face became even stronger: "Then why do you speak so strangely?"
This sentence directly made Bai Xiaolou tremble with anger. Seeing this, Ma Luo quickly smoothed things over and said, "Master Shaofu has misunderstood. Master Bai is really the Minister of Public Affairs." While giving Lin Ze a fierce wink.
However, Lin Ze turned a blind eye and said in a cold voice: "I wonder what rank Shangshu Cheng is?"
Marlowe hesitated for a moment and said, "Third grade."
"What about me?" Lin Ze's voice remained unchanged.
Ma Luo's heart tightened and he glanced at Bai Xiaolou. Under the pressure of Lin Ze's momentum, he smiled bitterly and said: "Second grade."
Lin Ze looked at Bai Xiaolou with cold eyes and said in a cold voice: "So, who gave you the courage to call yourself an official in front of Shangguan without bowing before him?"
Just as Bai Xiaolou was about to answer, he suddenly felt his body sink. An extremely terrifying aura pressed down on him, making it difficult for him to move. He looked at Lin Ze with an aggrieved look and said, "You."
Lin Ze shouted: "What are you? As an official of the imperial court, do you know the rules? How can you address Shangguan?"
"I don't care how the Prime Minister indulges you on weekdays, but when I come here, I must teach you to abide by the rules."
The aura emanating from it became heavier and heavier, and the grand master's chair made of fine wood under Bai Xiaolou's butt felt a little overwhelmed.
Feeling the pressure on his shoulders getting heavier and heavier, and Lin Ze's determination that refused to give up, Bai Xiaolou's face twisted, and he gritted his teeth and said: "I'm going to pay my respects to Mr. Shaofu."
Having said that, the resentment in his eyes became more and more intense. He, Bai Xiaolou, was born in the Bai family, an old aristocratic family. He had outstanding talents and entered the officialdom like a fish in water. How had he ever suffered such humiliation?
Lin Ze suddenly suppressed his momentum and said indifferently: "Is there anyone sitting down to salute the superior?"
Xu had lowered his head for the first time, but Bai Xiaolou did not have an overreaction. He stood up and bowed.
Lin Ze nodded with satisfaction and asked, "What official business does this officer need to handle?"
Bai Xiaolou had calmed down at this moment, as if nothing had happened, and said respectfully: "The first batch of laborers has arrived at the foot of the mountain. Please arrange for someone to receive them, Mr. Shaofu."
Lin Ze nodded slightly and said, "Lead the way."
Then he turned to Marlowe and said, "Go with me and make sure the matter is settled."
Bai Xiaolou walked to the front and led the way: "My lord, please."
Lin Ze walked up to Bai Xiaolou, with a sneer on his lips, and said quietly: "I don't care who sent you, if you really mess with me, you might die."
Bai Xiaolou's pupils shrank sharply, and he glanced at Lin Ze with fear on his face. He suddenly hesitated in his heart. Facing such a ruthless person, should he take revenge?
There is also something strange about this incident. I was originally responsible for evaluating officials from nine provinces, so why was I suddenly assigned to hand over labor?
A good move is to kill someone with a borrowed knife.
Lin Ze couldn't guess what Bai Xiaolou was thinking. Anyway, in his opinion, if it wasn't for someone's instigation, why would a third-rank minister show malice towards him, the young master?
In order to prevent all kinds of cats and dogs from appearing, it is best to kill each one.