The King of Qin was very excited after hearing this, and unconsciously leaned closer to Zhang Lu and said: "I am confused by the fact that the road is far away, blocked by mountains and rivers, Qin's laws are difficult to implement, rewards and punishments are difficult to believe, and there is no way to pass."
Zhang Lu asked: "What is the most difficult thing for the king to worry about?"
The King of Qin said: "The mountains in Shu County are high and the rivers are far away, and many people are rebellious and unwilling to obey. Although they sent important ministers and troops one after another, it was difficult to suppress them. Sir, this is a plan!"
Zhang Lu said: "My plan is that if the mountains are high and the rivers are far away, there will be roads. If the roads are connected, people can come and go, and things can flow. Voices and spirits are connected, there is no help, and the high and low are incompatible. Even if you want to rebel, can you get it?"
The King of Qin said: "Sir, do you want to imitate the way of Tongyi Canal and dig it to Shu County?"
Zhang Lu said: "This is what I want."
King Qin said: "Sir, when will the plan come true?"
Zhang Lu said: "I heard that the former king had access to the Golden Ox Path, but it had only been a few months. Then the army came out and Bashu fell in one fell swoop. Why should the Golden Ox Path be abolished?"
The King of Qin said: "I hope you can explain it to me sir."
Zhang Lu said: "The road to Shu is difficult to pass, but I am willing to make it through. The way to pass it, I am willing to observe and find it!"
The King of Qin pondered for a moment and said: "I regard you as your guest, and you are well versed in the roads of Shu. Don't say goodbye to me!"
Zhang Lu bowed down and said, "I will die to repay you!"
In early summer, the roads in Guanyi are lined with green willows and pink flowers; the number of cultivated lands inside and outside Guanyi increases again. Last year, Shan San did not come to collect protection money, and Guanyi was not attacked by thieves. Occasionally, some small thieves disappeared quickly under the attack of Xiao Si and the postmen. Guanyi showed a peaceful scene.
Zheng Anping and Wuwang worked hard on the fields. The boys who had grown up in Guanyi in the past two years no longer ran away as soon as they came of age like their predecessors. Many stayed to work with the city lord and Zheng Anping. There is more food in the city, and there are more salesmen in the surrounding areas.
The car dealership's business is booming. Some small traders in Zheng could not afford the shipping fees for bulk goods, so they preferred to take a detour to Guanyi and conduct their small business in Wei. Even Huayang next to Zhengdi and the fields within the Great Wall gradually became prosperous.
On this day, Zheng Anping and Wu Wang came back from taking care of the fields. They were surprised to find Zhang Noi waiting for him at the door of the house; Cao Bao stood beside him. Zheng Anping hurriedly stepped forward to salute, introduced Zhang Lu into the hall, and asked him to take his seat.
After the greetings were over, Zhang Noi directly expressed his intention and said, "Your Majesty, I heard that Mr. Zheng's retainer has died. Do you have anything?"
Zheng Anping said: "I have a retainer named Zhang Lu who came to seek treatment for his old illness. The former became ill and I returned to my hometown in a carriage. He may have passed away!"
Zhang He said: "When your Majesty asked the young master, it was not related to the death of Guipiao. Some people may have pointed out that Guipiao was Fan Ju, the deceased minister of the Wei Dynasty. The Prime Minister of Wei tried his best to investigate and went to the old residence of the Young Master. The Prime Minister of Wei knew that the Young Master was a vassal of the King, so To inform the emperor, I ordered my ministers to inquire about it. Sincerely, my deceased minister Fan Ju, I would like your son to present it to the prime ministers of Wei to correct the law."
Zheng Anping was shocked, sweating profusely, and said with a forced smile: "Zhang Lu is an old minister, how could he be mistaken. If he hadn't passed away, he should have been able to confront Wei."
Zhang Ye stared at Zheng Anping and said, "Young master is very uneasy after hearing this. What can I do?"
Zheng Anping said: "It is extremely uneasy to be suspected by noble people, but I have no way to prove my innocence!"
Zhang He said: "Young master, don't worry. Your Majesty just sent me to inquire. Since the Young Master has made it clear that the price is high, I will repay you with the truth." Then he changed his smile and said: "I have heard for a long time that Guan Yi has since After the Young Master’s pastoral orders, the scene is no longer what it used to be. It’s too early today, can we take a leisurely trip?”
Zheng Anping said: "I respectfully submit!"
Zhang Zhuo said: "Xiao Nu and Gai Nie are familiar with each other. Is it obvious?"
Zheng Anping said: "I'd like to thank you!" He ran to the back hall in person, asked Xiao Nu and Gai Nie to get ready, and went out to hang out with Zhang Yu.
After a while, Xiaonu and Gai Nie came out and met Zhang Jue. Zheng Anping found that Cao Bao was also missing. After asking, I found out that Cao Bao went to ask other officials in Guanyi to go out for a walk together.
At the end of last year, Xiaosi also married the daughter of a wine shop's family. The five officials all have families. Except for Cao Baowujue, who still lives in the private school of Zheng Anping's family, the others have their own homes. If Cao Bao wants to gather them all, the best way is to go to the post station first and let the post soldiers call them. During this process, Zhang Zou chatted casually with Xiao Nu and Gai Nie. Zheng Anping was always on tenterhooks for fear that Zhang Nou would ask a big question out of the blue.
After a while, the three families and the postmen came, and four servants, except the one who gave birth to the child, the other three also followed. Zheng Anping and Cao Bao were in front, with three other officials in the middle, four postmen behind, and behind them were a group of women, led by the tall Sister Ba, who left the city in a mighty manner. The city was almost empty. .
Zhang Zuo asked: "Guanyi has few people, what are your plans?"
Zheng Anping replied: "In my opinion, there is nothing better than recruiting refugees and diverting them back to their fields."
Cao Bao said: "The only thing I'm worried about is that the refugees are not accustomed to be kings and are stubborn and ineffective. Although the people are numerous, the fields are barren and the soldiers are unprepared. They cannot be used."
Zhang Ye said: "I see that all the lords have been married for many years, but there are many who have no children. There are many women in Guanyi, how many of them can get pregnant and give birth?"
Cao Baogan smiled and said: "I work hard every day, but I can't do what I want!"
Zhang Ye said: "There are few people in Guan Yi, so it is difficult to be unprepared for everything. It involves family and country, so be careful not to ignore it! Guan's order to recruit refugees is feasible. Even if you can't cultivate the land and practice fighting, you can still prepare for children." It's not useless. When the refugees come, the princes will govern them with strict laws, show them power, and use them to benefit them. There is no one who will not return to the king's state."
Both Zheng Anping and Cao Bao said: "Sincerely welcome!"
Zhang He said: "Su Lieutenant has got three sons. Although he is young, he is still lucky. With the newlyweds on his left and right, when he travels to Su Lieutenant, he will have a precious son early. Mr. Cao..."
Before Zhang He could say anything, Cao Bao quickly said: "I don't dare to be lazy, but I don't dare to be lazy!"
Zhang Noi said: "Don't be lazy if you don't stop, you should still succeed!"
Cao Bao said: "Yes, yes! I'm here, I'm here!" Everyone laughed. The women in the back were far away and they all asked the postman why they were not sure. The postman repeated what he just said, making everyone blush and their hearts beat.
Seeing that Zhang Ye no longer mentioned Zhang Lu's matter, Zheng Anping felt relieved a little. The crowd wandered around Guanyi for a long time. When they saw the sun setting over the mountains and the sky getting dark, they returned to the city to cook. When Zhang Zhe came, he naturally had fish and meat, which was very different from usual. Everyone gathered in Zheng Anping's house. The officials sat in the hall, and the postmen sat in the corridor. The women were in the back house, and the noble ladies entered the house. The servants and women were in the corridor, and the children followed their mothers. Wuwang and Wuer are responsible for cooking. Everyone sitting in the hall gets two pieces of meat and one piece of fish for the men, one piece of fish for the women, and one piece of meat for both men and women on the porch. However, even if the porridge is full, you can add salt and plums, and everyone will enjoy it.
At night, Zheng Anping gave up the lobby to Zhang Noi and returned to the back house with his slave. Zhang Ye did not go to bed immediately, but walked into the court, sighed, stretched his muscles and pulled out his bones, and practiced walking and boxing for more than an hour before he gave up.
After sending Zhang Zhuo away, Zheng Anping has been feeling uneasy. His thoughts were first discovered by Xiaonu. When asked about the reason, Zheng Anping did not dare to speak directly and just hesitated. Xiaonu told Sister Ba about Zheng Anping's news. Sister Ba told her: "This matter is neither big nor small. One of Guan Ling's friends offended Prime Minister Wei and was forced to death. Guan Ling rescued him. Now that people know about it, your Majesty sent Mr. Zhang to consult with Guan Ling. Order. Although Guan Ling pretended to be ignorant, his execution was exposed and Mr. Zhang knew about it. But don’t say anything!”
Xiao Nu was a little panicked and said: "If it is true, what can be done?"
Sister Ba said: "Don't worry about it. Mr. Zhang won't tell the truth, but he must have a rescue plan. Your Majesty will take care of Prime Minister Wei's affairs."
That night, the slave asked Zheng Anping: "Who did you save to offend the noble?"
Zheng Anping's scalp immediately exploded and he asked: "How do you know this?"
The little slave said: "I saw that you were uneasy, so I consulted Sister Ba, and she said this!"
Zheng Anping said: "What did Sister Ba say?"
The little slave said: "Sister Ba said that Guan Ling's friend offended Prime Minister Wei, and Guan Ling saved him. Now that the matter has been exposed, the Lord sent Mr. Zhang to inquire. Although you did not say anything, his deeds have been exposed. Sir, please explain in detail. I don’t know my ears!”
Zheng Anping said: "Mr. Zhang must be plotting against Mr. Cao! What can I do? What can I do?"
The little slave said: "Since Mr. Cao told Sister Ba, he must know the details. You will consult with me and decide on the strategy of advance and retreat."
Zheng Anping said: "I'm afraid I might be mistaken!"
The little slave said: "Sister Ba said that Mr. Zhang will not tell the truth, but he must have the intention of rescuing me. Please give me some advice."
Zheng Anping said: "What will I say?"
The little slave said: "What can I say? But tell the truth. Since Sister Ba knows, how can Mr. Cao not know?"
Zheng Anping didn't think it made sense. Sister Ba must have heard this from Cao Bao, and Cao Bao only got it from Zhang Noi. Zheng Anping recalled his performance in front of Zhang Ye and thought to himself that at most they were just suspicious. If he refused to admit his guilt, they would have no evidence. Thinking of this, he decided to meet with Cao Bao for a while to see what the other party knew. At least he could formulate targeted countermeasures!
So Zheng Anping bowed to the slave and said, "What you said is true. I should go to Mr. Cao for consultation!" Without changing his clothes, he got up and went to the front yard private school.
Calling the door open, Cao Bao welcomed him in. Before Zheng Anping could say anything, Cao Bao had a look of complaint on his face and said: "The management order is bad. It is a taboo for the venerable, for the relatives, and for the wise. It is a courtesy. Why should it be taboo!"
Zheng Anping said: "In my opinion, sir, what should I do next?"
Cao Baodao said: "I can speak frankly, Fan Ju, my friend, was tortured for no reason, and I couldn't bear it, so I rescued him. If the matter is not secret, let it be revealed. If you have any questions, I am willing to answer!"
Zheng Anping said: "Zhang Lu, Brother Su, etc. all know him, how can he Fan Juye? He is not a retainer, but a fugitive. I saw that he had knowledge, so I hid it. I heard that his enemies wanted him, so I came out."
Cao Bao said: "Zhang Lu is not Fan Ju?"
Zheng Anping said: "Sincerity is not right. He is a desperado and does not know his name. He pretends to call him Zhang Lu and thinks he is an old retainer. He is actually ready for consultation."
Cao Baodao said: "The secret of heaven is really unpredictable. When Mr. Zhang saw that the commander's expression changed when he heard this, he thought that Zhang Lu was Fan Ju. Now I'm afraid I will tell you! Even the ministers also thought that Zhang Lu was Fan Ju."
