In Yisi, Tongyuanjun City.
Under an oil lamp, Zhang Muzhi and Huang Cha sat opposite each other.
At this moment, night falls, and a black shadow slants down, making the scene even more gloomy at this moment.
Zhang Muzhi went to Tongyuan Army to investigate the affairs of Shi Yisi, and the general envoy Guan Gou Huangcha was interrogated.
In front of the experienced Zhang Muzhi, Huang Cha had almost no power to parry.
Zhang Muzhi chatted and laughed happily with Zhang Yue and Cai Yanqing during the day, like a virtuous elder, but during private cross-examination, he turned out to be an old official. He was not only skilled in writing documents, but also had great insight into people's hearts. Two sentences caught Huang Cha's flaw and penetrated the opponent's psychological defense.
Seeing that Huang Cha was about to be unable to resist, Zhang Muzhi said: "Okay, you go back first, and come back to the office for questioning in a few days."
Zhang Muzhi waved his hand, and Huang Cha seemed to be pardoned. He bowed hastily and bowed before exiting the door.
Huang Cha's legs trembled when he walked out the door, almost holding on to the wall.
Seeing Huang Cha like this, the staff on the side said to Zhang Muzhi: "The Lord is about to capture this Huang Cha, why did you let him go? What if he changes his mind in a few days? Now he is detained here."
Zhang Muzhi smiled slightly and said: "The evidence of this person's corruption is conclusive. We are not afraid of any changes. Besides, there is no reason to kill someone at once."
"Besides, this Huang Cha is a Jinshi after all. With a decent background, how can he be so reckless as to take down Yuan Zhongtong? This will not completely offend Zhang Duzhi and Wang Zichun like Gao Zunyu did. We are not relatives, have we done anything wrong? The Queen Mother protects us."
The staff said: "But the king is nowhere to be seen at the moment. He is working in the Tibetan tribe. As for his return, we don't know. The only person we can ask in front of us is Huang Cha."
Zhang Muzhi said: "Everyone knows that Wang Junwan entered the Tibetan tribe and it was Wang Shao's excuse. This Wangjun most likely did not dare to return to the Tongyuan Army for fear of crime."
"But Zhang Duzhi, isn't Wang Zichun going to attack Hezhou? As long as we capture Shi Yisi, we will capture his money bag and grain bag. In addition, generals like Wang Junwan are not here. Zhang, Wang If we want to attack Hezhou, how can we do it without money, food, and people?"
"Let's not push too hard. As long as Yuan Zhongtong is sent to the capital by Gao Zunyu, once the other party arrives, it will be Wang Shao's time to question him. The ones who are anxious are Zhang Yue and Wang Shao. We only need to carefully investigate the city under Tongyuan's army. That’s what Yisi’s accounts are.”
An aide on the side said: "Yes, this Yuan Zhongtong and Huang Cha did have unclear accounts. This is beyond doubt."
"We have not wronged the two of them. The master's investigation is also a matter of responsibility. We have conclusive evidence in our hands. No matter where this matter comes from, we can't be blamed. Who said Zhang and Wang allowed their subordinates to commit corruption?"
Zhang Muzhi stroked his beard and smiled.
The staff member smiled and said: "The Lord will sit here and the benefits will fall from the sky."
Zhang Muzhi said with a smile: "That's right. As someone who carries the punishment in a dignified manner, I can't beg for credit from others. I can only get it if people take the initiative."
The staff flattered him and said, "I'd rather take it from the straight line than ask for it from the song! My lord, this is Jiang Taigong fishing!"
…
Yuan Zhongtong already had a good reputation among merchants. Seeing him being arrested and the court interrogating Shi Yisi, the merchants from Shaanxi could not help but be surprised. The number of merchants coming to the ancient Weizhai was suddenly only one-third of the original number.
Zhang Muzhi was hesitant to interrogate officials, but he had no problem interrogating businessmen.
Shi Yisi is now where Zhang Yue and Wang Shao have their money and food. Not only do they buy and sell tea and horses with the Tibetan people, but they are also the source of He Bian's entry into China.
Following Zhang Muzhi's investigation, let alone the crusade against Hezhou, even the money and food for the soldiers and horses in Xizhou could not be guaranteed.
Wang Shao was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot and went to Xizhou to find Zhang Yue.
Wang Shao met Zhang Yue and said: "Gao Zunyu reported this matter to Zhang Muzhi, because he clearly did not want us to send troops to Hezhou."
Zhang Yue thought to himself that if flies don't bite seamless eggs, you can't help others if you do something wrong yourself.
Zhang Yue said: "Now that Zhang Muzhi has real evidence in hand, I'm afraid he won't be able to stop for a while."
Wang Shao said: "You have to stop even if you can't! This person was checked in Guwei, and our tens of thousands of troops were choked by him."
Zhang Yue said: "How to stop? Yuan Zhongtong is in the hands of Gao Zunyu. When he comes to Beijing and asks questions, the truth will come to light. If he stops now, he will be guilty of harboring connivance."
"Zhang Muzhi can be considered merciful. At least he didn't arrest people on a large scale in Guwei for questioning. Of course, if he is willing, he can do it."
Wang Shao asked: "Then what is Zhang Muzhi waiting for?"
Zhang Yue said: "Zichun doesn't know something. I don't dare to investigate such an important case too hastily."
"Why?"
Zhang Yue said: "The investigation is too urgent. If the victim is forced to rush, it will easily harm himself and completely offend others. If the investigation is too slow, the victim can be allowed to find someone to complain slowly. If he gets the words of a big shot in the court, With a few words, I can get a favor, or force the person to be willing to spend all my money and bribe him."
Wang Shao asked: "I heard that Zhang Muzhi was born under Xue Jixiang (Xue Xiang)."
Wang Shao knew that Zhang Yue and Xue Xiang had an old relationship.
Zhang Yue said: "It's not impossible to find Xue Jixiang, but Muzhi is determined to share the credit for the battle of Hezhou. He has to wait for me to come to him and bow his head to beg for mercy."
"It doesn't matter if I keep my head down, and it doesn't matter if I share some of the war achievements in Hezhou with him, but he colludes with Gao Zunyu, so I won't tolerate him."
Wang Shao said bitterly: "We are just trying to make achievements, but there are always people in the court who will hinder us. It is not difficult to defeat Mu Zheng, but the difficulty is that there are people who don't want us to make achievements. This difficulty is ten times more difficult than on the battlefield!"
"How can we succeed if we get entangled in this matter?"
Zhang Yue could understand Wang Shao. When he first attacked Huizhou, Lanzhou, and later Xizhou, everything went smoothly. But now that the court has allocated so many resources and troops to attack Hezhou, it should have been easier, but it turned out to be more difficult. .
Caught in countless internal strife and intrigues.
It's like running a company. When the company is still small, the founder team works together so well. Once the company grows up and introduces strategic investment, all kinds of things happen. There is discord within the team, and the funder wants to use you. , and I’m afraid you’ll lose control.
The same is true for the affairs of the imperial court. No matter how good they are, they will die if they are dealt with.
In the past, a small team was successful in fighting, but now that the officials have become bigger and there are more soldiers and horses, things can't be done.
Zhang Yue and Wang Shao faced this problem.
Wang Shao gritted his teeth and said: "No matter what, we will capture Hezhou first. As long as we capture Hezhou and Gao Zunyu, Zhang Muzhi will have nothing to say!"
Zhang Yue said: "The food and grass in Xizhou have not yet been fully prepared, and Wang Junwan is still avoiding disaster. It is too risky to send troops at this time. What if Dong Felt leads his troops to help?"
Wang Shao was speechless.
Zhang Yue pressed his hand and said, "Don't be impatient. I will take care of this matter."
Wang Shao asked: "How to do it?"
Zhang Yue said with a smile: "Does Zichun know about Shi Dan, Shi Xian and Liu Xiang? I will tell Zhang Muzhi to leave after reading my memorial!"
…
Bianjing City, in the Chongzheng Palace.
The officials were concerned about Xizhou's progress. Wang Anshi, Wen Yanbo, Wu Chong, Wang Gui, Feng Jing and Cai Ting were all sitting aside.
The official said: "Have you read all Zhang Yue's memorials?"
Several prime ministers nodded.
The official said: "I think the trouble in the world today is that the officials below are telling the truth. Gao Zunyu has repeatedly reported that Hezhou cannot be attacked for the time being. I am also worried about Zhang Yue. Wang Shao and Wang Shao are eager to succeed and want to attack. An imperial decree asked the two of them to talk about it later."
"At that time, several prime ministers advised me that since Zhang and Wang were given the power to make arbitrary decisions when the situation arises, I could no longer intervene. But now judging from Zhang Yue's memorial, it seems that Gao Zunyu has something hidden!"
Wang Anshi said: "Your Majesty, I think that Zhang Yue and Wang Shao are not greedy people, but it is true that the two of them may have some power. Gao Zunyu caught sight of their duties, so he told Zhang Mu about cheating the market to exchange money. Of."
Wu Chong said: "Your Majesty's ambition is to bring order to the world and annex Di Yi."
"Now Bing is always weak, and it is suitable for management. Although Di Yi's achievements should not be coveted, your Majesty wants to make great achievements, and Di Yi can take control of it at the same time. It should not be lost, and it should not be ruined by others."
"Now that Gao Zunyu and Zhang Muzhi are unwilling to cooperate, the advancement of Hehuang will inevitably be ruined. And if the commander-in-chief is divided, there will definitely be many ways to frustrate him in order to advance his selfish ambitions."
Wu Chong emphasized the word "private ambition".
Gao Zunyu and Zhang Muzhi deliberately used their power to prevent Zhang Yue and Wang Shao from attacking Hezhou. What did they want?
It is to use the official tools of the imperial court to advance private ambitions.
Wen Yanbo said: "Your Majesty, I think that Zhang Yue and Wang Shao both have great strategies. They used troops to win consecutive battles before, which shows that your Majesty is very smart in employing people. Now they are restrained and cannot be free."
"However, Gao Zunyu, Zhang Muzhi's investigation into the corruption case of Yi Si was not groundless. I see that if I don't get real evidence, I will never dare to accuse the commander in such a false way."
The official said: "I have seen what Zhang Yue said in the memorial. Previously, the Tongyuan Army and the Tibetan tribe had selected members of the family. They were willing to listen to the collection of this court. Not only that, they were also allowed to check their household registrations."
"I thought that these tribes had newly joined, so why not give them more materials and money to appease them? As for exceeding the expenses and failing to report them, it is inevitable. There is no need to hold them accountable for money and food."
Wu Chong said: "What your Majesty said is absolutely true. As long as every official has a public heart and gives money, why would our ancestors set up so many measures to prevent people from having selfish motives."
"I would like to ask your Majesty to use the timetable to surpass Wang Shao. The two of you will do your best. Your Majesty, please take care of it!"
The official nodded and said: "As Zhang Yue said in his memorial, none of our ancestors were as mediocre as the Han and Yuan emperors. They appointed eunuchs like Shi Dan, Shi Xian and other relatives at will, and persecuted ministers like Liu Xiang and Xiao Wangzhi. Therefore, the scholar-bureaucrats of this dynasty were Take state affairs as your own responsibility and serve the country with all your loyalty. My ancestors were not, and I am not the Emperor of Han Yuan."
Several prime ministers said: "Your Majesty is wise."
The official said: "I remember that I have repeatedly warned you to use false pretense to surpass Zhang Yue, and to be more lenient in the king's years, but why do the officials below repeatedly refuse to listen and set up obstacles to advance their own ambitions?"
"Gao Zunyu and Zhang Muzhi have gone too far. Now that Gao Zunyu is transferred away from Xizhou, I am afraid it will damage the Queen Mother's face. But Zhang Muzhi and Gao Zunyu are colluding with each other. They are punished all the way, but they have no character at all. Let's let it go. Resigned to his duties!”
Wang Anshi said: "Your Majesty, Zhang Muzhi has also been punished all the way. He was quite effective in rectifying Baojia before. He will be demoted to three positions and demoted to a small state!"
The official said: "It's accurate!"
