Bai Yousi stood on the field bank in the snow for half a day, until the snowflakes gradually stopped without moving. After a long time, he asked coldly with a long sword in his arms:
"Zhang Sanlang, what do you want me to do?"
"What do I want to do for inspection?" Zhang Xingclan stood under the tree with his hands in hand and asked jokingly. "I think the inspector rebelled against his mother in Jiangdong. How long will it take for the imperial court to resist? When we go to Dongdu and seize the throne, the inspector will be a female emperor, and I will be the Prime Minister of Nanya. Brother Hu will be the governor of the Western Capital, Qian Tang will be the Prime Minister of Taichung, Li Twelve Lang will be the governor of Beiya, and Qin Er will be the general of Shangzhu State... Wouldn't it be beautiful?"
"Don't be joking!" Bai Yousi didn't have a black face, but had a somewhat gloomy look.
"I know, I know."
Zhang Xingcong put his hands in his hands and walked around under the tree to face him. "Not to mention that a noblewoman from one of the top three families in the world would rebel just because she suddenly knew that most of the people in the world were in dire straits. How ridiculous is it? If it really doesn't work, you can go back and ask that unfathomable father for advice. , and ask him what he thinks.
Moreover, Taichung's Zhongcheng seems to be reliable. Can he be allowed to make some serious improvements? Why is it the other way around?
What's even more terrible is that it's not okay to rebel. If you rebel today in Jiangdong, tomorrow you will lead an army to surround them and slap each one into a pulp...Who dares to rebel?
There is a scene of the end of the Wei Dynasty, but Yang Shen's rebellion is right in front of us... It is really impossible to do anything against it!
But the inspector asked me, what do I want? Even though I knew I couldn’t and couldn’t resist, I still wanted to rebel against him! In the past few days, I have made four or five inspections on this Jiangxin Island. I have measured twenty or thirty places on ten acres of land, and it is the same everywhere. During the inspection, I asked myself, what can I, a poor man from the North who was born as a farmer, think? ! "
Bai Yousi stopped where he was and watched Zhang Xing turn around seven or eight times. He waited patiently for the other party to finish venting and took a breath before asking again: "Then let me ask another question, what can I do now? Do you think I What should I do? Zhang Xing, I trust you and am willing to listen to your words."
"I have three strategies: upper, middle and lower." Zhang Xing stood still and blurted out. . "The best policy is that even if you don't rebel now, you can still subtly prepare for the rebellion from today. The two of us will start to work out the regulations and build a counter-Jing'an platform. You will contribute the money and I will contribute the effort to attract talents and make friends with heroes. When the time comes, Jiangdong can't bear it anymore. Wait until Hebei, the eastern border, can't bear it because of the next conquest of Goryeo. Wait until a noble family like Yang Shen can't bear it anymore. Let's take advantage of the opportunity and raise an army with the Bai family! Then we can unify the world externally and purge internally. Your brothers and sisters, by the way, will put your father under house arrest in Taibai Mountain and send you to the throne as soon as possible... By then the female phoenix will return to the throne, the four emperors will bring blessings, the world will be peaceful, and everything can be expected."
Bai Yousi remained silent.
"I know, it's too hasty and shocking. Moreover, there is Duke Bai there who is as cunning as a ghost and Zhong Cheng sitting alone in the black tower. After all, I dare not respond." Zhang Xing shook his head and said. "So there are middle and lower strategies... The lower strategy is the summary that everyone made in the palace tonight. The criminal is Eunuch Zhao, and the colluded True Fire Sect demons have also been obtained. The evidence and confessions are all correct. I can't sit still. Just move... Jiangdong officialdom also hopes that we won't move and don't delay them from suffering the people. But if the inspection is like this, it won't be you, right? "
"Where is Zhongce?" Bai Yousi asked calmly. "You know what the middle strategy is that I will choose? Just say the middle strategy."
"The middle strategy is very simple." Zhang Xing suddenly sneered again. "It's just a temporary paper. You can't worry about the long-term, but you can focus on the present; don't worry about the general trend, and focus on the small details first... If you are successful, you can help the world, if you are poor, you can only take care of yourself. Everything is people-oriented, hoe the strong and help the weak, and you can save a common people. Right or wrong?”
"Isn't that right?" Bai Yousi asked calmly.
"Yes." Zhang Xing took a long breath in the snowy night, and the white smoke immediately dispersed. "This is what I do on weekdays...I can't do anything about big things, but I try my best at small things. Sometimes, it's good to be worthy of the conscience of heaven and earth. Not to mention those remnants of the people, they are much better than many heroes..."
At this point, Zhang Xing suddenly went to see Bai Yousi and asked sincerely: "Inspection inspection, am I a little too ambitious?"
"No." Bai Yousi paused for a moment and answered seriously. "I can also understand you. Thousands of fleeing people are clearly right in front of you, but you can only save a few dozen people... Human beings are not grass and trees, how can you not be angry? But Zhang Sanlang, what you did is really excellent, your cultivation is You are far inferior to me, your background is far inferior to me, your official position is far inferior to me, but you can always do better than me... If you still think you are incompetent, wouldn't you shame the people of this world?"
Having said this, Bai Yousi took a step forward and asked one word at a time: "But, Zhang Xing, this time, let's do our best now and live up to our mood, okay?"
Zhang Xing thought for a moment and nodded heavily... Actually, there was some truth in it, so why didn't he know it?
At dawn, Jiangdu deputy left-behind Zhou Xiaoming waited for Bai Yousi, the noble daughter of the Bai family and an inspector of the Jing'an Taiwan special inspection team, to visit him.
Besides, since Bai Yousi brought many True Fire Sect rebels into the city yesterday afternoon and his son came to report, Deputy Zhou knew that they would definitely come.
However, what he didn't expect was that, on the one hand, the other party came so quickly, it was just dawn, the snow had not been swept away, and breakfast had not been eaten before they came to the door; on the other hand, the female inspector actually brought the person named Zhang with her. Bai Shou came to the door. Thinking about the latter's mouth, he had a premonition that this morning would be a bit difficult.
"Congratulations to niece Xian for her victory..." After both parties sat down, Zhou Xiaoming began to exchange greetings. "In a few days, we raided multiple rebel strongholds, killing them decisively and shocking Jiangdong."
"Gong Zhou, we enlightened people don't speak secretly." Bai Yousi's eyes were bright. "I came here so early today not to fight with Duke Zhou... Zhang Xing!"
"Yes." Zhang Xing, who didn't even have time to take off his mink hat, immediately stood up and held his hands in front of him. "Gong Zhou, if you can forgive me, please let me explain it briefly."
Deputy Zhou was a well-known national general who was left behind, the kind that would probably go into the history books. When he saw this man standing up, he felt a little sore in his stomach. He wanted to take action immediately - so what if I don't forgive him?
However, as everyone expected, when the deputy guard thought about the big trouble, he still closed his mouth and sat upright, just twirling his beard to look.
"Mr. Zhou, I guess Mr. Zhou already made it clear enough last night as to how this case will be settled, so I won't go into details." Zhang Xing put down his hand, speaking clearly and in a calm tone, as if he was reading a written report. "What we want to say today is that, first of all, we people in Jing'antai are not fools. We know exactly where and how the palace's food went; secondly, we have benevolent hearts and understand the hard work of Jiangdong's people, so we are ready to Let’s do something to see if we can do our best to improve the officialdom of Jiangdong and make some contributions to the people of Jiangdong. At least we can’t let the batch of grain we are responsible for escorting have an undue impact on Jiangdong.”
Zhou Xiaoming pinched his beard tightly, eyes wide open, and said nothing.
Mr. Zhou Xingfan, who was sitting with him in the last seat, was a little embarrassed at first, and then simply confused, because he suddenly couldn't understand.
"Duke Zhou, you have to do something." Zhang Xing took a few steps forward and came to the center of the hall. He spread his hands seriously, looking very imposing. "Is it as simple as a 10% autumn tax? The people are already working very hard. An extra 10% will probably kill people. And Zhou Gong is also from a Jiangdong family. How can he see the people in his hometown in dire straits? What about among them? Or, even if it is our own private house, even if we are so sincere, Duke Zhou still has to pretend to be deaf and dumb? By pretending to be deaf and mute, is it worthy of Eunuch Zhao, or does it mean that he will not die? "
Speaking of this, Zhou Xiaoming finally glanced at Bai Yousi who was sitting still and said with difficulty: "Zhang Baishou! What can you do? The key to this matter is food. This is not a small stock of food, but seven. 10% of the county's autumn tax, and in the end, the government servants from the seven counties will go north with you in an open and honest manner... Under this world, except for the public and serious taxation, it is impossible to conjure so much food out of thin air. What I have been told by the superiors... can only... can only... can only..."
"Can we only suffer for the people of the seven counties?" Zhang Xing suddenly laughed out loud.
"Isn't it?!" Zhou Xiaoming turned his face away. "The officials in these seven counties have already realized this. I can only pretend to be deaf and dumb...Do you want me to give you Xuzhou military rations? I don't dare!"
"We don't dare to ask for military rations." Zhang Xing nodded, and then asked seriously. "But why do we have to suffer the common people instead of suffering the family clans, such as the eight Jiangdong families who are entrenched in the seven counties?"
"What the hell?" Zhou Xiaoming was stunned.
"The reason is very simple." Zhang Xing opened his hands in response. "The people pay taxes many times over. If there is an increase of 10%, people will die. As for the eight families in Jiangdong, I heard that when Yang Gong came to suppress the rebellion, he was very polite to them. It can be seen that even if there is no hidden house and hidden field, it is still a few people." A century-old family fortune has not been taken away, and it is impossible to be overtaxed. Isn't it enough to just sweep them away... If that doesn't work, chop their harps to make firewood, and cook their cranes to satisfy their hunger. , there will always be fewer deaths.”
"How can this be possible?!" Zhou Xiaoming was furious. "Don't be ridiculous. Jiangdong's hundreds of years of culture and romance must not be ruined on this matter. I can't agree to it!"
Young Master Zhou Xingfan, who was probably half confused after hearing this, was slightly startled. Looking at his father who was having a fit, his lips actually moved slightly.
But at this moment, Bai Yousi, who was sitting beside him, suddenly sneered on the spot.
Hearing the sneer, Deputy Zhou's eyelids twitched obviously.
But Zhang Xing was calm and responded with a smile: "Of course I know that after all, Duke Zhou's family has been a family of generals for generations, and the people are still the people of the family. I must still think that the people are the easiest... But to I said, Duke Zhou is overthinking. We are not here to ask for your consent. We are imperial envoys who have been ordered by the emperor to go south to supervise this matter. We are in charge of this matter. We have a camera across seven counties to decide this matter, including supervising the collection of taxes. Autumn grain is basically our mission during this trip.”
Zhou Xiaoming was startled slightly, and then his heart felt cold.
"On the other hand, Duke Zhou, you are just the deputy deputy of Jiangdu. You can only take charge of Jiangdu. Once you leave Jiangdu, you won't be able to take care of it." At this point, Zhang Xing seemed a little hard to understand. "So, if we had to go to Wu County and raid Xie's house, why did you disagree? Why did you stop the imperial envoy for no reason? It was the left-behind mansion's turn to take care of this matter? Or, did you mess up something? Just looking at my thick eyebrows and big eyes, I forgot that we are the notorious evil dogs in brocade. Can't we concoct evidence among the seventy-seven True Fire Cult rebels that the Eight Great Families of Jiangnan colluded with the True Fire Cult to rebel?"
Zhou Xiaoming remained silent and could only look at Bai Yousi again.
Bai Yousi did not show any courtesy, and after standing up, he said calmly: "Mr. Zhou, are you thinking of something wrong? What do the so-called Eight Great Families of Jiangdong mean to the Bai family? I have made a decision on this matter, and I will inspect it for the imperial court." , why not loot a few Jiangdong noble families? But Duke Zhou, you can either continue to pretend to be deaf or mute, or help to say hello in the official circles of various counties, and then send some people to help quickly loot, this is not possible Before spring comes, he will settle the matter and not disturb others at all... By then, the food supply will be temporarily replenished, the Eight Families will fall, and Duke Zhou will be able to avenge his oppression for hundreds of years, and no longer let others underestimate his family... …The best of both worlds, yes or no?”
Zhou Xiaoming pinched his beard and remained silent and motionless.
Bai Yousi and Zhang Xing no longer hesitated, and immediately handed over their hands and turned out together. They were so surprised that Zhou Xingfan and Master Zhou came to see them off in a hurry.
When he came to the door, Zhang Xing suddenly stopped and turned around, smiling at him: "Mr. Zhou, although it is not good to belittle a father in front of his son, but let me tell you, your father is far inferior to Lai Gong. Do you believe it or not, if we go find him?" My lord, since then my lord has shown his arrogance, he has already held up his palms and laughed, and then he gave me a golden arrow."
Then you went to find Mr. Lai from the beginning? Are you afraid that if you come to the public cultivator because your cultivation level is too high, you won't be able to stop him from inspecting your home, so you won't be able to ridicule him?
Mr. Zhou really wanted to ask such a rhetorical question, but in fact, he was silent for a moment and responded seriously: "Inspector Bai, Brother Zhang... I roughly heard what was going on, and my father was obviously there. I hesitated, but I just couldn’t bear to lose my face... I’ll let my little brother go and try to persuade me.”
"Time waits for no one, and the situation is between us and you... Xing Fan, our gentleman's appointment is due tonight." With that, Zhang Xing handed over and left.
So, in the evening, Mr. Zhou personally sent a golden arrow.
ps: Good night everyone
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