In the next few months, political affairs in the court changed rapidly. Fan Zhongyan first pacified Shaanxi, Hedong, and Fu Bi followed by Hebei. Han Qi was unable to support the Privy Council and sentenced to Yangzhou. Xia Su was finally envoyed by the Southern Court of Xuanhui, the Grand Secretary of the Zizheng Hall who exchanged cultural resources for the Zhongwu Jiedushi, and the Minister of Personnel. However, this time he falsely accused Fu Bi and others of rebellion, which made too many people despise it. The road to entering the two prefectures is still far away.

In autumn, Du Zhongxiao lost his energy to collect summer taxes. It took nearly two months before he paid the autumn taxes to the state.

On that day, Du Zhongxiao was waiting at the city gate early. Looking at Su Shunqin coming from the pier, he only brought an old servant, and felt mixed feelings.

A few years ago, he was bullied by someone. It was the magistrate who helped him at that time that he was today. Unexpectedly, there was one day when he was in charge of a county, but he had become a civilian and was in a state of decline.

After welcoming us, after showing off our salute, Du Zhongxiao said, "Brother Du has worked hard all the way, and we will rest in the county town for a few days. The autumn tax has been completed, and I have no official duties these days. I will accompany my brother to visit nearby."

Su Shunqin's face was gray and looked at Du Zhongxiao, and he didn't speak for a while. A few years ago, he was an inconspicuous little man under his control. A few years later, he was removed from the list, but he was already in the magistrate.

Su Shunqin left the capital this time with anger, and he was punished for being disgusting as a despicable crime of "inspection and self-stealing", and was also thinking that he was wronged by the court who was loyal to him, abandoned by his relatives and friends, and was disgusted with the world. When he was about to arrive at the Yongcheng Wharf, Su Shunqin made several plans to go south and not come to see Du Zhongxiao, so as not to embarrass him when he met. In the end, Du Zhongxiao was unbearable and came to the county town.

Nodded, Su Shunqin said: "A few years ago, I'll leave you a few years ago. You've taken charge of a county, and your future is promising. Alas, life experiences—"

Having said this, I couldn't continue.

Du Zhongxiao understood Su Shunqin's mood and said nothing more, and entered the county town with him.

When he arrived at the Houya, Du Xun, who rushed to Yongcheng to see his son, was shocked when he saw Su Shunqin's appearance: "The magistrate, how could he be so depressed after not seeing him for a few years? Even if there are some setbacks in the officialdom, there is no need to take it seriously for a moment."

When the Du family was in trouble, Du Xun went to Xuzhou to file a lawsuit. Thanks to Su Shunqin's help, it was only then that time. Du Xun respected this benefactor very much. If he hadn't been him, his family might still be bullied by a local tyrant and would not have been able to turn over. The Du family has today, and the most important thing is of course that his son Du Zhongxiao is successful and he really got back from a Jinshi. But Su Shunqin's helping hand helped them at the most critical moment.

Seeing Du Xun and thinking about his high spirits back then, Su Shunqin felt better.

The guest and the host sat down in the flower hall, and the whole Du family came out to meet. At this time, Han Yueniang had confirmed that she was pregnant, her belly was obviously big, and it was a bit inconvenient to walk. She held her mother-in-law and bowed to Su Shunqin, thanked her again and again before returning to the back.

Seeing Du Zhongxiao's family being in a neat and happy manner, Su Shunqin sighed: "The magistrate's future is promising, his family is harmonious, and life is like this, what else can I ask for? I have been an official for twenty years, but I have today's trouble, alas--"

Du Zhongxiao said: "You don't have to take it seriously for a moment. Anyone in the court has not been demoted today? Brother Su just relaxes his mood and spends some days, and he may recover after a while."

Su Shunqin shook his head with a wry smile. Most of the important officials in the two courts in the court have indeed been demoted, especially Fan Zhongyan, who has been demoted more than once. But can that be the same? They were demoted for their duties and became more famous once. They were demoted for "self-stealing in prison", which is a very despised reputation among the literati. They have become famous and want to recover.

When the wine and food came up, Du Zhongxiao was filled with wine and said to Su Shunqin: "Drink this cup to welcome you to your brother!"

After drinking, Su Shunqin looked at the glass and said in a deep voice: "Just for the sake of this glass, I made a mistake for the moment, and I am still today. Hateful! Thinking about the days before, how many people drank with me, and they were in harmony. When they were in trouble, no one helped me and no one stood up. Why is the warmth and coldness of the world? When you are late, you are still a young man, don't know the dangers of the officialdom. Remember my lesson today, be careful in the future!"

Du Zhongxiao thanked him. Su Shunqin was removed from office, but he was not under the jurisdiction of the organization and his personal freedom was not restricted. In fact, he could live in the capital. He was born into a large family and his father-in-law was Du Yan, the current prime minister, who asked someone to mediate in the capital. There would always be a day to rise again. However, this time, no one spoke for him except Han Qi and other a few people. Even his former best friends Ouyang Xiu and Cai Xiang did not speak. This made Su Shunqin feel disheartened and ran away from the capital with anger, feeling that everyone in the world would not be sorry for him.

From a neutral perspective, Du Zhongxiao felt that Su Shunqin was too extreme. He gathered to drink, and most of the young talents he invited were young talents. This time he entered the prison in Zuoyuan, and the young civil servants recommended to the capital by Fan Zhongyan and others were almost wiped out. At this time, who dared to implicate them? Furthermore, Su Shunqin used public funds to drink, and the evidence was conclusive, and the amount was large, and according to the law, it was the death penalty. The first-class removal was stopped, which was not a law-based external punishment. What can others say?

Before this case, literati gathered in the capital, spoke and acted without restraint, and dared to say anything. In this case, the people who gathered to drink not only talked about the government affairs, slandered the ministers, but also ridiculed Zhou Gong and Confucius, whose words and actions were extremely unrestrained. To put it bluntly, if even such words and actions were allowed, it would probably cause confusion in thought. Su Shunqin was severely punished, which is related to this.

From Cai Xiang's "The Poem of Four Sages and One Unworthy" a few years ago to Shi Jie's "Ode to the Holy and Virtue of the Holy and Virtue of the Qingli", middle and lower-level officials directly labeled "traitorous ministers" to the ministers in the court. The trend of "villain" is becoming more and more prosperous, directly affecting the government affairs. The case of Su Shunqin is the pinnacle of this trend. Du Zhongxiao's opinion from the official newspaper felt that if he did not suppress this trend, he would be unable to control it later.

Although the new policy of celebrating commendation has not changed much in specific policy measures, and it starts with ideology and personnel, it is by no means useless. However, this new policy quotes a large number of middle and lower-class literati, and the people quoted too much, lacking solid political achievements. But these people have a high opinion of themselves and have no scruples in speaking, and have a great spirit of changing the world. This approach itself is to raise hatred for Fan Zhongyan and others, but they still feel that they are helping Fan Zhongyan and others to open up a temporary atmosphere. Fan Zhongyan himself has seen the problem long ago, but he is unable to stop it.

Seeing Su Shunqin being disheartened and heartbroken, Du Zhongxiao realized that an era was over. After entering the prison this time, officials could no longer be as unscrupulous as before and speak irrelevantly.

He advised Su Shunqin to have a glass of wine again, and Du Zhongxiao sighed in his heart. This incident was not for a few glasses of wine!

He drank until Su Shunqin couldn't get up, and Du Zhongxiao sent him back to his room to rest.
Chapter completed!