Tokyo, Taishi Mansion.
"Meet Master Cai!"
Li Gang bowed to Cai Jing.
"Mr. Qi, since you came up with this plan, then you can go to Liangshan Park!"
Cai Jing looked at Li Gang and said with a smile, they didn't want to recruit Sun Lei at all, but if the recruitment failed, he would definitely be held accountable, so Li Gang, the instigator, became the best scapegoat.
"In addition, I will send you two more people!"
Cai Jingyou clapped his hands, and two people walked out of the back hall. One was Zhang Qianban of the Grand Master's Palace, and the other was Li Yuhou of the Palace Commander's Palace.
"Thank you, Master!"
Li Gang looked at the two people thoughtfully. There must be something wrong with Cai Jing's sudden sending of people.
"This is your majesty's edict and the royal wine given to you. Please go and return as soon as possible!"
Cai Jing waved his hand again, and a team of servants came out with dragons and phoenixes carrying pots of imperial wine.
"Yes, Grand Master!"
Li Gang could only frown and accept the order.
When he walked out of the Grand Master's Mansion, Li Gang happened to see the officials who were going to recruit the other thieves from the three sides. They were all talking and laughing.
On the second day, Li Gang led everyone out of Tokyo City and headed all the way to Liangshanbo.
"Master Li, how are you going to recruit those thieves this time?"
Zhang Qianban smiled and asked about Li Gang.
"Naturally, you should comfort them with sweet words, teach them with reason, move them with emotion, and induce them with benefits. If they don't obey, you will tell them how powerful they are, and let them know that the future will be difficult. If they understand how powerful they are, they will naturally surrender."
Li Gang said casually, since he was seeking peace, he would naturally deal with the thief with words.
"Master Li, I'm afraid your words won't be able to deal with those thieves!"
Huang Wenbing, who was behind Li Yuhou, suddenly spoke.
"Who are you!"
Li Gang frowned and looked at Huang Wenbing. He had noticed this new member for a long time, but he was familiar with Li Yuhou, so he did not ask directly.
"The new Puzhou magistrate Huang Wenbing!"
Huang Wenbing said directly.
"It turns out to be Magistrate Huang!"
Li Gang squinted his eyes and said with a smile, Huang Wenbing was originally the prefect of Jeju. After Liang Shanbo broke through Jeju, Huang Wenbin fled back to Tokyo with his people. Unexpectedly, this man was not charged, and instead he was let go as the prefect of Puzhou.
"Master Li, Magistrate Huang has been in Jeju and knows the thieves in Liangshanbo best. He is traveling with us this time to get to know the situation of the thieves."
Li Yuhou said with a smile.
"Oh, I happen to be a little curious about the thief, and I would like to ask Magistrate Huang to introduce him!"
Li Gang looked at Huang Wenbing and asked with a smile. Huang Wenbing must have relied on Gao Qiu's relationship to get away with it. He must have followed him this time because he didn't want Liangshanbo to recruit people. The hatred between Sun Lei and Gao Qiu was well known to the world.
When Huang Wenbing saw Li Gang asking about it, he also talked about Liang Shanbo's crimes, which naturally included adding fuel and jealousy to amplify Sun Lei's viciousness.
"Is that so?"
Li Gang frowned. He thought Sun Lei was some heinous thief, but unexpectedly, it went beyond his expectation. Without Huang Wenbing's extravagant content, Sun Lei didn't seem so hateful.
"Master Li, this group of thieves is absolutely heinous. We must not give them a good look. If the thieves gain power, it will bring disgrace to the court. We must suppress them and let them know what ethics and etiquette are!"
Li Yuhou looked at Li Gang and said.
"Most thieves are people with bad tempers. I am afraid that doing this will only anger the thieves."
Li Gang looked at Li Yuhou and said.
"Master Li, you are an official of the imperial court, and everything you say and do is related to the imperial court. If you show weakness, where will the imperial court's face go?"
Zhang Ganban looked at Li Gang and said.
Seeing Zhang Qianban and Li Yuhou looking unkind, Li Gang knew that this was the purpose of Cai Jing and Gao Qiu. If he still behaved in a domineering manner after going to Liangshanbo, he would definitely anger the thieves, and he would inevitably be punished if he failed to recruit security.
"So you want me to be the scapegoat!"
Li Gang sneered in his heart. Cai Jing and Gao Qiu thought that if they sent two people, they would be unable to do anything. But Li Gang was not an ordinary person, so he quickly figured out a way.
"What you two said is true, just rely on Zhang Qianban and Li Yuhou! Let the thieves know how powerful the imperial court is!"
Li Gang smiled and looked at Zhang Qianban and Li Yuhou, cupping their hands.
"Master Li, just understand!"
Zhang Qianban and Li Yuhou laughed when they saw Li Gang's knowledge. They were very satisfied with Li Gang's knowledge.
The team soon arrived in Puzhou. As the new prefect, Huang Wenbing naturally entertained Li Gang, Zhang Qianban and Li Yuhou.
Two days later, Li Gang led the recruitment team to Jeju.
Li Gang walked very slowly, only walking a few dozen miles in one day, and it took him three days to reach the Puzhou border.
"Master Li, why are we walking so slowly?"
Zhang Ganban couldn't help but said, although they didn't want to recruit An Liangshanbo, the grinding and whining made them very irritated. They just wanted to finish their errands and return to Tokyo early. They had to rush on this desolate road. They suffered a lot. I haven’t eaten in years.
"You two don't know. I had already released the news of the recruitment when I left Tokyo. I am afraid that the thieves in Liangshanbo have known about it for a long time and are just waiting for us to arrive. We must not use the airs of Shangguan to make them wait a little longer. sky?"
Li Gang said with a smile.
Li Gang's words were irrefutable to Zhang Qianban and Li Yuhou. It was they who advocated using the majesty of the imperial court to despise the thieves, and the most direct way was to hang up the thieves who were waiting for them. This was also a method commonly used by Shangguan when he went to inspect local areas.
“It’s spring plowing season now, how come this field is still so barren!”
Li Gang saw nothing but wasteland along the way, which made his heart sink. The most important things for a farming dynasty were spring planting and autumn harvest. As long as the harvest was guaranteed, the world would be as stable as Mount Tai.
"The unruly people don't care about farming and are too lazy to eat. They should be severely punished!"
Li Yuhou said nonchalantly.
Li Gang ignored it. He knew very well that the people were industrious. They worked at sunrise and rested at sunset. This had been the case for thousands of years. Even if there were those who were lazy and lazy, they were very few. The only thing that could lead to the desolation of fields was harsh government and miscellaneous policies. Tax.
"Looks like I've stayed in Tokyo for too long!"
Li Gang silently thought in his heart that since he came to live in Tokyo until he passed the imperial examination and became an official in the court, he had not been to the place for many years. When he came out today, he discovered that the place had changed dramatically.
"The fields are barren and the people don't care about farming and have turned into refugees. It's no wonder that thieves and bandits are everywhere."
Li Gang sighed in his heart, everything happens for a reason.
After walking for a long time, it was not until the afternoon that Li Gang led everyone to the junction of Puzhou and Jeju.
“Climb the hill in front and you’ll reach Jeju!”
The Puzhou soldier who led the way pointed to the mountains in the distance and said.
"Okay, you go back!"
Li Gang looked at the not-so-high mountains in front of him and said to the escorting Puzhou army that they were the Shangguan who were recruiting people. If they brought local troops and horses, it would make Liang Shanbo suspicious.
Zhang Qianban and Li Yuhou had no objections. They just wanted to get things done quickly and return to prosperous Tokyo.
"Sir, be careful all the way!"
The escorting officers glanced at Li Gang and others with complicated eyes. Because they were close to Liangshanbo, they knew very well that the Tokyo official would not end well if he went to Liangshanbo.
(End of chapter)
