Chapter 40 Where is the Thirty-Nine Horror?

The six soldiers who escorted me were sent by Luoyang. The leader was Cao Jie, in his thirties, from Luoyang.As if he was afraid that I would die without being stiff, he still retained a considerable degree of respect for me, and asked me from time to time if I was tired and if I wanted to rest.I was very grateful for his kindness, and I repeatedly refused, saying: "When you must arrive at Luoyang, there is a fixed schedule in the law. I don't want to burden you, and you must not be so polite." Other officials also saw Cao Jie treat me Respectfully, they all chattered: "Although there is a fixed itinerary, the journey to Luoyang is dangerous and far away, and the regulations are not so strict. Don't worry too much, Mr. He!"

Alas, they call me "He Jun"!I half-jokingly said: "If you are my subordinates, you can't act so loosely." They looked at each other, then smiled and said: "I have heard for a long time that Mr. He is very strict, but the rewards are also very generous. If I am under the rule of Mr. He, I will work hard and strive for promotion." They spoke very seriously, and it did not appear to be pure falsehood.Some officials really don't like to promote their subordinates, so the subordinates just perfunctory, not trying to make progress, greedy for ink and receiving rewards, without shame.I am not the case. Every time I change places, when I first arrive, I must recruit my subordinates and warn them that those who are greedy for ink and cheat will be severely punished, and those who are honest and hardworking will be rewarded heavily. Some, most of them will be given to officials as prizes, so although the officials under me work hard, they never complain.When I was the prefect of Nanjun, there was a Dragon Boat Festival, a pavilion head privately collected money from the people in the pavilion where he was, and bought food and clothing with the money he got to give to his father to celebrate the festival.The old man wondered, because he knew that his son’s salary was not rich, and there were three children in the family. The whole family only had enough food and clothing daily, so why did they suddenly spend money like this? Why spend money to buy so many things, take them back and return them quickly." The little official bowed his head and cried, "Your Excellency has not made new clothes for several years, and my son is really ashamed of others. Please take it back, Your Excellency." The old man said: "You have such filial piety, I am more than happy in my heart. I am old, and the clothes can keep out the cold. Do I have to wear new ones? But these three children, you can't treat them badly. Go and return them." If I don’t return it, I’m not happy.” The little official said: “I’ll tell you the truth, I bought these food and clothing from the money collected from the people in the pavilion department without permission, and it will not affect the daily expenses of the family.” The old man said, Immediately, he was furious: "I have heard for a long time that the new Lord of the He Mansion is honest and upright and loves the people. Most of the private money of the less mansion is used to reward his subordinates, and he has nothing to do. You have the heart to cheat when you have a king like this. I will beat you to death for disloyalty." You son of a bitch!" As he spoke, he picked up his crutches and beat him.The little official hurriedly confessed his crime, and surrendered himself to me according to his father's order.When I heard what had happened, I was very moved and went to his house to thank his father in person.There are such kind-hearted elders in the county. Doesn't this just mean that our government is effective?I took out my salary and bought a new clothes for his father, and wished him his birthday, saying: "Confucius said, "Knowing benevolence through observation, the son of the elders violated the law because of filial piety. Although he is guilty, it can also show his nature The mellowness, the elders are really good at teaching their children. If all the old people in Nanjun can be like their elders, why worry about dying in Nanjun?"

In the end, I did not punish the old father's son, but promoted him instead.Geng Kui also reminded me at the time: "Your Majesty has always said that rewards must be punished, how can you live up to your words this time?" This question confused me, it's not that I haven't thought about this question, but I really don't think it's justifiable to send that little official who privately donated money to the people to buy clothes for the old father to celebrate the festival to prison.After all, he surrendered himself, and his old father is also a mellow elder. If he is punished like this, how can he encourage the people of Nanjun to follow good customs?

"But if he is not punished, all the traitors in Nanjun will rob their homes in the name of a filial son? Could it be that the government lord also lightly used the phrase "Knowing and knowing benevolence" to prevaricate? The so-called filial son." Geng Kui didn't understand. I shook my head: "It's not the same. If the parents of those thieves can persuade the thieves to surrender themselves, then they are good people, so why should they be punished?" Geng Kui murmured: "I didn't expect the governor to become a Confucian official." My heart moved, he said so.Do not abide by laws and regulations, but want to transform the people with rites and music, what is Confucianism?I smiled awkwardly, but didn't answer.

Sitting on the sill car, I recalled these things, and I felt very sad for a while.The rain stopped and fell on the road, and in the evening, the rain gradually became heavier. The small officials all brought umbrellas, but it was almost useless under such heavy rain in the south.The rain does not fall straight. Under the action of the strong wind, it turns from time to time and drills into people's arms.The umbrella can only be used as a self-consolation for the umbrella holder. In an instant, everyone including me is like a chicken that has just been lifted out of the water. The heavy rain even blocked my nose, making me unable to breathe.

"I have to find a place to shelter from the rain." Cao Jie said to himself. Nonsense, it's strange to find a place on this country post road.The sky gradually darkened, and the evening rain made everything even more bleak.This is early summer, and the early summer in Lingbiao is usually quite dry and hot. It was like this when we set off in the morning, but now in the evening, it is as cool as autumn in the north, even a little cold.The weather is so strange, I couldn't help shivering. "Where is the nearest pavilion?" I asked, "Look at the picture." A little official said: "It's probably not far away. It's useless to look at the pictures. Besides, it's raining too much. If you walk along the post road, you will always see it."

The sill car walked for a while in the wind and rain, and many places in front were already flooded. Fortunately, the post road was extending to the open place.A group of people drove the horses and pulled the sill cart up the high slope. There were trees on both sides with dense branches and leaves, covering it so that the sky became darker and darker.I feel that this road is a bit familiar, but I am not sure.There are lush trees in Lingnan, and there are mostly towering trees on both sides of ordinary paths, and there is no difference between them.In the forest, the rain also suddenly became smaller, obviously covered by the leaves a lot, only sparse raindrops, falling from the gaps from time to time, but much larger than ordinary raindrops.The petty officials stopped talking and just walked in muffled voices, seeming very depressed.I don't know how long I walked, and suddenly someone pointed excitedly: "There seems to be a light over there, maybe it's a pavilion."

His words caused a commotion: "Really? That's great, I'm fucking fed up with this damn weather." "I've never looked forward to warming up to the fire, wearing such wet clothes for a few more hours , I’m afraid I’ll die here.” “I’ve dried my clothes, had a full meal and listened to the sound of the rain and slept, I think it’s not bad.” They chattered about their dreams, and I felt the same as them. Of course, the situation was even worse. I haven’t suffered like this for at least twenty years.Although they are still polite to me in words, they will not come to hold an umbrella for me in the rain. After all, I am no longer the governor, but a prisoner sitting in a car. The destination is Luoyang. What is waiting for me? I don't know what kind of fate it will be.Now, I just hope to rush to the next pavilion and have a good rest. I don't even think about what the future will be like.

Cao Jie opened his eyes wide, looked forward for a long time, and scolded: "There is no light, you bastard, are your eyes dazzled?" The little official who spoke before rubbed his eyes and said aggrievedly: "I did see a light just now, it's strange, but now it's gone." Another little official looked back from time to time: "There seems to be someone behind." The other officials all turned around abruptly, pulled out the ring knives in their hands at the same time, turned their heads left and right like rabbits, and said in horror: "Where, where is there someone?" I also turned my head, and there was smoke behind me. The orderly and gloomy post road is hidden in the hazy night, and there are no figures.The other petty officials scolded him: "You idiot, you saw a ghost." The petty official standing beside me suddenly asked me: "He Jun, do you think there are ghosts in the world? If so, why? I've never seen it?"

I laughed and said: "If you can really see it in person, you may not be very happy. When I was young, I was an official under the former Taiwei Zhou Xuan. He told me a story about a man named Fei Changfang in Mi County, Henan County. A person who possesses Taoism and can see ghosts in the daytime is miserable. Although he has a talisman to catch ghosts, ghosts have nothing to do with him. But think about it, if a person eats and sleeps alone every day, he will always see ghosts around him. Isn’t it something pleasing to the eye?” The little official laughed happily, almost threw away the weapon in his hand, and put his hands on his hips with his shirt on. He said: "It's really not very pleasing to the eye, but from this point of view, He Jun believes that these things must be true?"

I looked up to the sky and sighed: "I used to be half-believing, but later I completely believe that there must be ghosts in this world." My affirmative tone made him terrified again, and he looked behind him instinctively: "No way...even if it's true, I don't want to meet him." At this moment, another little official pointed to the hillside: "Look, there are indeed people here. There is a pavilion with a watch erected on it, with the words Huben Pavilion! The name is interesting. When we came, did we ever stay in this pavilion?" The other petty officials shook their heads suspiciously, and one said: "I don't really remember, maybe I stayed there before, who cares." My reaction is naturally different from theirs: "What? Huben Pavilion, why did you come here?" For a while, I had mixed feelings in my heart. Could it be that tonight is destined to be an unusual night? They brought me to this pavilion, what are they going to say to me this time?help me?No, they can't save themselves, how can they save me.Maybe it's just a farewell. I'm a little curious about how the farewell will be used. Cao Jie felt that my reaction was unusual, and looked at me: "Mr. He knows this pavilion?" He was probably frightened by my expression, and asked again: "What's wrong with Mr. He? Is there anything weird here?" I didn't want to tell him that this pavilion was haunted, so I pretended to be indifferent and said: "Yes, I noticed this pavilion when I checked the route of the post office in this county before. But it should have been abandoned a long time ago. It seems that you are going wrong I have made my way." I looked at the dim gate on the slope, and felt relieved in my heart that this experience was really interesting. When I came to Cangwu to take office, I started with this pavilion; when I came back, I ended with this pavilion. It's over. The leading official said: "Why did we go the wrong way? We walked all the way and only saw this post road." I said: "Maybe I remember wrongly. It is possible that I can't remember it because of the heavy rain today." I didn't want to tell them those things and scare them away.I wish they would take me into the Huben Pavilion now and spend the last night there.I remembered that it was in this pavilion that I dreamed of Ah Ji, whom I hadn’t dreamed of for a long time. Tonight, can I repeat that dream?In addition, I also want to see the tombs of Su E's family. After salvaging their bones from the dry well, I ordered them to be buried directly in the courtyard of the pavilion, including Su E's bones. Geng Kui transported her here to be buried together.Now that their family is reunited, they should be doing well! "Anyway, at least there is a place to shelter from the wind and rain. It's getting dark now, and it's not practical to go any further. It's better to stay here overnight and wait for the rain to stop tomorrow morning before starting." I made another suggestion. "That's fine." Cao Jie said, "Even if it's an abandoned pavilion, it's not a big deal. At least two rooms can be demolished and used as firewood for cooking. Gentlemen, go in." They drove the cart, along the slide next to the steps, and pushed up the half-hill slope.The Huben Pavilion is bathed in a bleak night, only a trace of outline can be seen.The paint on the door is mottled, the copper shop head is still well preserved, the door panel is not closed firmly, and it is a little crooked, like a paraplegic patient, which is a bit weird.Cao Jie stopped, turned his head and pointed at a small official, and ordered: "You, open the door and go in and have a look first." The little official hesitated and said, "Is there a ghost inside?" Cao Jie said: "Just now you said that you saw a bright light ahead, it probably came from here, maybe there are barbarians living in it. Of course you should go in first to say hello to the place you found. We can't take your credit for this, right?" He said. Go back and ask for the opinions of other small officials.What they got in return was naturally a unanimous response: "Of course he is going, what Cao Shijun said couldn't be more correct." The little official screamed: "The light must have come from a ghost." Cao Jie laughed loudly: "Coward, I have to go forward." He snatched the spear from a small official, stretched it out and opened the door.The door hinge made a creaking sound, which was very harsh in the quiet field, adding to the gloomy atmosphere. If I had been prepared, my heart could not help but tighten for a while. Led by Cao Jie, they filed into the courtyard one by one, with my car behind.The grass in the yard was so dark and dark green that I couldn't believe it, and although it had been completely cleared a few months ago, it completely flooded the path again, and there was a rustling sound from time to time. There are green ripples of different sizes, probably toads, snakes and other insects sneaking in it, the size of the ripples also depends on the type of insects.Cao Jie was obviously a little scared, and while poking around in the grass with his spear, he cursed: "Damn barbarian place, it rains every day, and there are poisonous snakes and toads everywhere, it's really a fucking place where people live .” The other little officials were also nervous, and they kept poking their spears in the grass, followed Cao Jie step by step, and yelled in their mouths: "Toads can't be underestimated, if they are sprayed with poison, they will kill you all over your body." Fester." "Looks like there are big four-legged insects, and the grass here has been trampled flat." I'm fine, sitting in the car, don't have to worry about being attacked by reptiles, they will probably be a little envious of me at this time. The rain stopped at some point, and it stopped very strangely, as if it was just an instant, faster than a beauty laughing through tears.When we entered the inner courtyard, a crystal clear moon even rose in the sky. If it was daytime, it must be replaced by a golden sun. The moon is still full tonight, like a huge silver mirror, pouring light on the faces of the petty officials without hesitation, so that I can clearly see their vivid expressions.I recalled the scene of sleeping at the Huben Pavilion for the first time, and I was overwhelmed with grief. At that time, I didn’t expect that Su’e’s family, who asked to sleep in the heavy rain, would be wronged ghosts, and I didn’t even want to see ghosts. Now I’m pregnant. Deeply looking forward, I secretly pray in my heart, please show up again, so that these people from Luoyang can see you with their own eyes and listen to your narratives, so that they will know that the world is really clear, and the retribution is not good.As for me, I killed Li Zhi purely to uphold justice, and I should not be treated as a car confiscated. Cao Jie ordered torches to be lit, but all the firelights they carried were soaked by the previous rain, and they couldn't be lit.Fortunately, the moon rose higher and higher, shining on the green grass in the courtyard, like a layer of frost, and the occasional breeze or the movement of animals in the grass made this layer of frost fluctuate.I thought to myself, it's a pity that no one appreciates such a quiet and beautiful scenery, and it's all given to the insects in the grass. "Go in and have a look, search separately to see if there is any dry wood, and then find a way to light a fire." Cao Jie ordered. The floor of the pavilion is made of square bricks, and there is not so much grass. The petty officials embraced each other and jumped into the house, leaving me alone in the courtyard, sitting in the carriage with the horses.I heard a burst of rummaging in the house, probably they were demolishing the wood in the house.After an unknown period of time, I suddenly heard an exclamation: "Grave, there is a row of graves in the backyard!" Then there was one after another of cursing: "Damn it, abandoned pavilions are not allowed to be used as graveyards." "Unlucky, these Damn barbarians are really messing around." Four tombs are lined up, which are the tombs of Su E's family.I was pulled off the sill car and stood at the back door of the pavilion, looking at their quiet silhouettes.The graves are full of thorns and weeds, decorated with small blue and white flowers. "This is not a tomb piled up by barbarians without authorization, but the resting place of four wronged souls." I said lightly. The flint and the like were soaked by the rain, but they finally lit a fire and started cooking, and soon the house was filled with the smell of food, and the bright red fire roasted their foreheads and wet clothes, and the mist was steaming, This kind of mist and rice fragrance are intertwined, which can be regarded as a kind of sweet breath in life.When eating, I may need some soy sauce to go with the meal. Under their strong request, I told the story that happened in this pavilion. They gradually opened their mouths and cast their eyes on the four graves outside the door. Zhong, unable to accumulate due to panic: "My God! So this pavilion is really haunted? You, why didn't you tell me earlier." I smiled and said: "You don't need to be so afraid. Being haunted by ghosts is just a manifestation of the powerlessness of the ghosts. They died innocently and buried here for five years, but the traitor who killed them is sitting on a good land in the world." They can only ask me for help through apparitions, begging me to avenge them. What do you think ghosts are afraid of?" The petty officials settled down slightly and continued their chewing.Cao Jie said: "The thieves are so hateful that ghosts and gods appear to sue for their grievances. It is really bizarre and touching! Although He Jun's means of revenge for them were too violent and even violated the law, there was a reason for the incident. I think His Majesty the Emperor will pardon He Jun Yes. He Jun has accumulated such sinister virtues, and he will definitely be rewarded by ghosts and gods! I heard that in the past when Yu Dingguo Tingwei tried unjust prisons, there were countless people alive. Xuanche. Later, he really became prime minister, and I think He Jun will definitely become Sangong in the future." I don't know what he said, life is too short, and in this short period of time, those people who can make my heart ache are gone, so what is the purpose of living?When everything in front of him has changed, can he live again?What's the point of living again, to meet new friends, to reclaim new fields, build new houses, and create new landscapes. Then, can we really forget all the old people, old things and old things?Those joys, anger, sorrows and joys of the past, with the frailty of the human heart, can they really bear it calmly?No, I don't think so, unless memories can be restarted, and the world can be opened up again.I remembered a poem that was sung by everyone when I was in Luoyang.I took a deep breath and murmured: The faces of Cao Jie and others also became solemn, which is not surprising. This poem is so good that even illiterate people will be moved.As long as people can think, who doesn't worry about this eternal problem of life?I usually don't think about these things, but I am blinded by life and benefits, and I am helpless.The fire in front of me was crackling and burning, and I could only hear such a sound in the silence. I don’t know how long it had passed, until a burst of long laughter suddenly came from outside and it was interrupted. It came so suddenly that everyone around me trembled A moment, and I, more than trembling. That voice said with a smile: "Your Majesty is so excited, I'm still in the mood to recite poems at this point. But I'm afraid I can't do it if I want to reward you generously!" I felt a heavy hammer hit my head, and for a moment, I didn't know whether I was in a dream, because the voice was so familiar to me, and I could distinguish it effortlessly even if it was burned to ashes.

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