Beginning in late September, the rain began to become intensive, washing the entire world layer by layer and at occasional intervals.
At this time, rumors gradually came out in Jiangling City, saying that the deposed leader of the Dragon Gang, Zhang Xing and Zhang Sanlang, seemed to be in a bad mood recently, or perhaps it was no longer a rumor, but a fact recognized by everyone.
To be honest, the impact of this incident is not very good. It is said that the middle and high-level people inside and outside Jianglingcang City and those participating in the military camp training are a little uneasy, especially in this autumn, when the outside world is turbulent and the so-called troubled autumn is nothing more than this.
On this day, five more battalions of preparatory generals completed their training. They stayed in Jiangling or returned to camp according to proportion. Taking this opportunity, the restaurants outside the city naturally became lively again.
"Why?" Zhai Qian was puzzled in a restaurant opposite Niu Ma Camp. "Isn't the situation looking great?"
"Are you angry that the military formation was not started?" Niu Da blurted out. "Third brother has always been unhappy with this."
"That's not necessary." Xu Shiren said helplessly. "This kind of thing will work or not. We do have insufficient strength, and it is always right to prepare generals and officers for training, and it will be done. Why should we be discouraged by this for so long?"
"That's definitely not why. The chief won't keep fussing over such a foregone conclusion." Xu Shiying suddenly said. "It's definitely not something you want to talk about in Henan. Huaixi has conquered half of Yingchuan, and Jiyin has gained an extra Liangjun. What's the point? The land of one county is not enough to change the overall situation. What's more, where is Jiyin? That's it, Xingyang can't move any further... The real future lies in Hebei... Didn't the chief also formally issue a document asking Jiyin Xingtai to supervise Liangjun without any hesitation? "
Most of the people present were generals from Henan, and they were relieved when they heard this.
After all, the conflict between Li Shu and Zhang Xing is always the most sensitive and inescapable issue for them. Needless to say, in the past, the two were in opposition. Now that Zhang Xing has become the chief, the problem has not completely disappeared. This is because Chief Zhang chose Hebei strategically, and the eastern border, especially the three western counties of the eastern border, are the main generals. The hometown and the rear area are still important psychologically. Moreover, the current flag change in Liang County is also very beneficial to them, because it gives most of their hometowns a layer of protection.
It would be a headache if this caused related internal problems.
"What's going on?" Zhai Qian asked seriously. "Xu Dalang, since you know a lot, just be more decisive."
"I think it has more to do with Cheng Dalang marrying Cui's daughter." Xu Shiying answered seriously.
"Isn't that true?" Wang Shuyong frowned slightly. "Third brother has never meant to interfere in the marriage of his subordinates. Wasn't it because he arranged for your sister to marry King Xiongtian? Or does it mean that third brother dislikes Cheng Dalang and kills her first, or follows the path of the Fang brothers?"
"It should be because he dislikes the habit of climbing to high places as soon as he gains power." Xu Shiying glanced at the other party and added a little.
"Isn't the chief also married to Bai's daughter?" Zhai Qian felt even more ridiculous when he heard this.
"So the chief didn't interfere, he was just angry." Xu Shiying replied casually. "In the final analysis, I feel that Cheng Dalang has been more private than public in recent years. He has a lot of thoughts, but he is not focused on business. However, he is as slippery as a loach, and he is not easy to get angry. Even because of his cultivation and experience, he has no intention in the camp. It did take three points, and it was difficult to even be demoted and transferred... And there must be worries that other people would be led by Cheng Dalang to live in chaos. After all, where is this? The real tough battle must be with Guan Long and Jin When we are facing off against that group of people, I have indulged myself in drunken women and business owners, so how can I win?"
Everyone was suddenly stunned, then relieved, and everyone spoke up, mocking Cheng Dalang for his lack of ambition.
However, Niu Da frowned slightly, and then asked again: "Don't you dislike the marriage between the Henan leader who leads the army and the Hebei family, and the big tail can't be lost?"
There was a sudden silence in the restaurant.
"There must be." Xu Shiying glanced at Niu Da and continued to talk casually. "If two or three of these things happen again at once, the chief will definitely be angry... But to be angry is to be angry. In fact, according to the chief's habit, he will go beyond this level and only look at the individual for such things."
"What do you mean?" Niuda was a little confused.
"That is to say... the so-called tail is too big to lose. Ever since the Dragon Gang was established, we people have been the biggest trouble. And the reason why the chief has been able to turn the illusion into reality step by step today, the so-called countermeasures, At the very least, it is a countermeasure to deal with people like us, and it has never been meant to attack a large number of people." Xu Shiying's words were casual. "The three most common strategies...the first is called killing, which is to continuously expand the territory, expand the strength of the Deposed Dragon Gang, attract new people to join, and equally share the authority and importance of a single leader; the second The second one is called establishing a system, speaking in terms of being fair and aboveboard, and then making fair arrangements, setting up fair and aboveboard rules, and asking you to abide by them; the third one is for individuals... to see whether you are good or bad, or to win over you with kindness, or to win over you through kindness or kindness. Threats and suppression are all about making each of you obey, and what kind of gangs are not all human beings? As long as the leader obeys honestly, everything will be solved."
Wang Shuyong, who had been silent all this time, seemed to have thought of something and suddenly laughed, but did not speak.
Niu Da, on the other hand, didn't care: "In this way, the third brother still cares most about Xu Dalang, which shows that Xu Dalang is the most powerful one among us."
Several people almost couldn't hold back their laughter, but Xu Shiying only snorted and said nothing.
Zhai Qian, on the other hand, came back and asked after a while: "If this is the case, do you want to remind Cheng Dalang to take it easy?"
"Lao Zhai wants to be a good person and do it himself." Niu Da shook his head quickly. "Everyone has his or her own destiny... Moreover, if we go by Xu Dalang's words, the third brother is either scheming against the law or taking matters into his own hands. What should we remind you? If he is really defeated, he is the one who caused the trouble."
Several people nodded.
"You can't say that." Zhai Qian said disapprovingly. "Who was as smart as Xu Dalang from the beginning? Even if he was as smart as Xu Dalang, wouldn't he also be blinded by the private soldiers? These words are obviously difficult to say from the chief, so let's tell Cheng Dalang to remind you, If he restrains himself a little, I'm afraid it won't be the same in the future... Even Xu Dalang, now that things have happened, you should be less angry. How old are you, and you still need to be coaxed? People say that you used to talk beautifully, but now He is reliable in his work, but he can speak beautifully and be reliable in his work, isn't it good?"
Xu Shiying hesitated to speak, but she never thought that she would be ridiculed by this rough man, and other people also nodded...as if everyone can be sarcastic? But it's not easy for you to care about it... because he knows very well that his mentality has indeed been out of balance since coming to Hebei, and he has not adjusted it for a long time. He is no longer like the ordinary people before, but he is actually a different kind of self-destruction.
In this way, after talking for a while, Zhai Qianwu went down first and prepared to leave in the light rain, saying that he was going back to ask the clerk for help in writing a letter to Cheng Dalang.
The other people looked at each other, but no one was willing to go with Zhai Qian to find Cheng Zhili.
However, when Zhai Qian walked downstairs, the people on the second floor could see clearly that a group of people suddenly came out of the cattle and horse camp opposite. The two sides bumped into each other, and it was Zhai Qian who took the initiative to say hello in the rain.
But it was Chief Zhang Xing, Dou Lide, Cao Xi and his wife who seemed to have just returned from inspecting the Niu Ma Camp.
With their cultivation level at hand, the leaders on both sides did not hold umbrellas and just talked in the drizzle. Then Zhai Qian pointed upstairs. The people upstairs were also embarrassed and wanted to go down together.
Unexpectedly, Zhang Xing just held his hand from a distance and turned directly towards the city without looking back. On the contrary, Dou Lide looked this way repeatedly.
This made several people even more embarrassed - they claimed to be aboveboard and send Niuda back to their residence, but who among them didn't know the sensitivity of such a private gathering? It's okay for Dou Lide and his gang to think too much about being hit today, but if Chief Zhang remembers it, he doesn't usually mention it, and if he gets hit one day and hangs out, who's to blame?
Not to mention the momentary embarrassment of these people, Zhang Xing hurried back to Jiangling City for a reason. These days, he has been worried about this shabby Deposed Dragon Gang.
Passing through the rain curtain and entering Cangcheng, the green bricks on the ground have been washed away by the rain. Chief Zhang directly entered the largest public house, where Chen Bin, Cui Suchen, Xie Minghe, Ma Wei, and Yan Qing were present. Waiting everywhere.
In addition to Dou Lide and Cao Xi who came with them, basically all the general managers came to take charge of daily affairs.
"How do you say it?" Zhang Xing asked as soon as he entered the room.
"That's it, chief, we have a plan. We discussed it privately and found it feasible." Chen Bin, who was waiting for Zhang Xing, carefully looked at the chief in front of him, then glanced at the Dou Lide couple who followed, and then spoke slowly road. "There seems to be some commotion within the gang at the moment. If this strategy can be implemented, it may be able to calm people's hearts in a short time... Moreover, it must be done sooner or later. It is inevitable."
"What do you mean?" Zhang Xing was slightly surprised. "What do you mean there is some commotion within the gang?"
"It's just because of the situation outside that the gang is a little uneasy." Xie Minghe was the first to answer. "There are wars on all sides, and those who are not fighting are also plotting and plotting, which has made everyone up and down recently... The sergeants, farmers, and businessmen are worried about a war, and the officers and some leaders are instigating a war, and some People take the opportunity to contact each other privately, either to arrange a marriage or to reminisce about old times, as if they are preparing for something... Even Chief You, don't you keep a straight face and worry all day long?"
Zhang Xing hesitated for a moment, but unexpectedly did not refute: "Then what is your plan?"
"We think we can add some official positions." Chen Bin took the words seriously.
Chief Zhang suddenly understood: "Create additional positions, promote and decentralize some people, and let them settle down?"
"That's the truth, but the key to this matter is whether the additional positions are reasonable or not..." Chen Bin continued. "Chief, don't you think Bohai County is too big?"
Zhang Xing became more and more confused.
There is nothing more to say.
You must know that this world has entered a period of great chaos and division since the so-called former Tang Dynasty, which caused all-round collapse due to land annexation, the merger of powerful powers, the dictatorship of eunuchs and relatives, and the rampage of aristocratic families. During this period, the political power in the north and south was turbulent, and the territory or Big or small, Guo Zuo may be long or short.
Among them, there may be overall systems, laws, civilization and inheritance lines, but the administrative division is undoubtedly a mess.
Even Dazhou and Dawei tried to correct it several times, but they never came back.
For example, at present, some governor-general states are as large as Dengzhou, which are composed of three traditional medium-sized counties. For example, Youzhou is even more terrifying. Large counties such as Hejian and Bohai are also a bit scary. And some states and counties, such as in The ones on the north side of Yanshan Mountain and the south side of Dumo Desert are only too small.
There are four hundred states and counties in the world, and the Wei Dynasty occupies three hundred. This is not just a boast, but it is indeed a phenomenon.
Back to the present, compared with the several counties in the east except Dengzhou, they are moderate in scale and have long historical origins. The current Bohai, Hejian, Xindu and other counties are actually facing the East after the elimination of the Eastern Qi. The administrative boundaries of Qina are like the "Fifty East Yi States", which are forcibly restored and combined, and do not match the actual situation.
"The main reason is that the Bohai Sea is too big." Cui Suchen rarely spoke. "Civil affairs documents and administrative orders are often slow to respond to. They are one level worse than several states and counties in the east. There is really no need to keep such a large area."
Zhang Xing nodded, feeling relieved.
This is definitely not just a problem of Bohai itself being too big, but also a problem of the level of the prefect Zheng Ting. As the first batch of civil servants when the gang was established, the fact that this guy was squeezed to the end among all the people to serve as the prefect speaks for itself. And Cui Suchen has always been unwilling to get involved in these things. Chen Bin can pull him out, which is even more problematic.
"Then how to divide the Bohai Sea? Does it have to be divided into two?" At this thought, Zhang Xing couldn't help but be curious.
"That's not the case." Chen Bin said seriously. "Our rough plan is to merge several counties south of the Majian River in the Bohai Sea with the northern part of Dengzhou, plus a county in Qijun, into one state... This place is actually the mouth of the river, and most of the people here come from both sides of the Strait. The cultural customs are similar, but there are few differences between the north and the south."
Zhang Xing nodded repeatedly, this is a good plan, and the area is suitable.
"Is this the only preparation?" Zhang Xing continued to ask. "Dividing a county can appease people's hearts."
"The other thing is that Cui is in charge. He said that he is in charge of confidential documents. In fact, he is in charge of multiple jobs. It's nothing more than the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of Punishment. These two should always be separated. There are special skills. Yes, one should be recruited and given responsibility to others."
Zhang Xing nodded, having nothing to say.
In fact, nothing else matters. The so-called development of bureaucracy is nothing more than professionalization and official standardization. As long as we go in this direction, there will probably be no problem. What's more, this is not considered a reform, because the Wei Dynasty already had the prototype of three provinces and six tribunals, and also had an excessive attempt from the government army system to the recruitment system, and the Deposed Dragon Gang itself also followed this example at the beginning... It's just that the territory is small, and military affairs are given priority. It makes it unnecessary to put some things out too early.
If you put it out now, no one would find it strange.
"For the military, add a layer of preparedness; for local administration, add a county; for Xingtai, add a civilian branch..." Zhang Xing calculated. "It's not impossible. It should give some comfort to the people inside. In fact, I think there is no need to limit the division of responsibilities. As long as it is professional and useful, it can be set up. For example, one of our big problems is corvee labor. , because you need to work with the army and civilians to maintain local water conservancy, this can also be separated independently... However, let’s not talk about this for the moment, do you have any candidates for the civilian department and the prefect? "
Dou Lide, who had been silent all this time, suddenly realized that this was the reason why these people carried out the sudden attack. The matter itself was fine, especially the fact that Cui Suchen had given up the one in charge, which was even more remarkable.
But the problem is that these people, whether they are the initiators of the matter or the so-called insiders, can always get this follow-up and follow-up question naturally.
This is the key.
But Dou Lide had no choice but to intervene, not only because Chen Bin launched a surprise attack, but also because he, Dou Lide, had no one in his hands. There was no leader of this level and seniority in his small circle who could take over.
This is a conspiracy.
"If the people are in charge, there are quite a few county magistrates who have done a good job, or we can simply ask the other county magistrates if they are willing to come..." Chen Bin blurted out. "Including a few local officials who have returned home, it doesn't matter."
A person flashed in Zhang Xing's mind and he nodded immediately: "I asked one person first. If he doesn't agree, I will choose someone based on this idea... Where is the new county governor?"
"How is Cheng Dalang?" Chen Bin asked.
Zhang Xing immediately laughed out loud - these people saw that he looked bad these days, and they probably guessed or asked about some possibility from Yan Qing, so they were waiting here.
Dou Lide was suddenly enlightened at this moment, but he also took a step forward and expressed his support: "I think Cheng Dalang is quite suitable. He is mature and good at civil and government affairs... but the chief feels that it is not good for him to serve as the county guard in my family. , what if we let him exchange with Pingyuan or Jibei?"
Zhang Xing looked back at Dou Lide, who had just inspected the Niu Ma Camp with him. The livestock manure was lost and the fodder was damp due to the rain. When this kind of incident was reported, people like Chen Bin did not understand its importance, but they basically did not understand it. He will go to inspect it in person, but Doulide and his wife can go to the dung pile with him to see it.
However, even such a hard-working person who dares to sink to the bottom of the gang also has his own selfish motives.
In fact, Dou Lide is almost the most selfish of these people, or the one who is least good at hiding it.
The reason why this guy was silent just now was because those two positions were beyond his reach, and now he is talking because once Cheng Dalang takes office, Cheng Dalang's camp will be vacant, and there will be leaders who can be promoted to the top, and there will be people If he can be promoted to leader and lead troops, his small team can get a bite out of it.
Who can hide this thought?
However, he was not prepared to have any rebellious mentality because of this, because these people were more or less working people, and more or less they were doing business while thinking about their selfish interests. In contrast, Cheng Dalang's behavior made him, Chief Zhang, more and more dissatisfied. .
Zhang Xing didn't believe that a sophisticated person like Cheng Zhili would not realize his dissatisfaction - he had encouraged everyone to congratulate him before, and then when Cheng Zhili got married, he received neither gifts nor visits.
As a result, until now, there has been no active statement from the other party.
We really need to give this guy, and also the whole gang, a clear warning.
"In principle, it's feasible." Zhang Xing nodded, then looked at Dou Lide. "But you have to ask Cheng Dalang himself what he means first."
Everyone was relieved, and maybe there was a feeling of "celebration" in their hearts, but it was hard to say.
After Zhang Xing agreed to this plan, he returned to his office. First, he wrote a letter to the "qualified guardian Zhang Daxuan" who was far away in Jiyin, sincerely inviting him to serve as his people's supervisor. After a moment of hesitation, he replied. He wrote another unexpected letter, but it was actually written to Li Qingchen of Yecheng. It was a sincere letter of persuasion to surrender.
It didn't matter whether I wrote this letter or not, but considering that I asked Li Ding to relay the message to Qin Er, and then asked Xie Minghe to relay the message to the fortune teller, I suddenly realized that Li Qingchen is now in Hebei. The lone shadow disappeared.
Moreover, he is indeed employing people here, and he also believes that people like Li Twelve will be more useful once their brains are turned around.
After writing the letter, Jia Runshi came in to arrange for someone to send it out. However, Chief Zhang looked at the drizzle outside the window and inexplicably thought of many old friends. He didn't know where the people he had experienced were in this troubled autumn.
Just as he was thinking about it, the autumn rain outside became heavier again, and the sound of rain suddenly woke him up.
Zhang Xing couldn't help but sigh and called a guard: "Go and invite Chief Dou and Chief Cao."
After a while, Dou and his wife, who were already in Cangcheng, arrived together.
"If it continues to rain, will there be floods?" Zhang Xing asked seriously.
"It's hard to say." Doulide was a little uneasy, and then looked at his wife.
"There will always be waterlogging, but once the crops have been harvested, it doesn't matter... If you are worried about major floods, then only Qingzhangshui may cause trouble, and for Qingzhangshui, you have to look at the water level of Gaojibo." Cao Cao Xi's answers flowed fluently. “It’s the only one along the way that doesn’t have an embankment.”
"Then I'll go there now!" Zhang Xing stood up. "I'm always uneasy if I don't understand this matter... You and your wife don't have to accompany me. I can just ask the locals when I get there."
In the end, Dou and Cao had nothing to say.
However, when the two of them followed Zhang Xing out, Dou Lide couldn't help but ask: "Chief, everyone says that the chief looks bad these days. Is it because he is worried about the rain?"
"After the drought, it rains again in autumn, how dare you neglect it?" Zhang Xing said helplessly. "However, there are too many things to worry about. It would be great if this thing can account for 30% or 50% of the success."
As expected, Dou Lide felt disappointed.
Although he had long realized that benevolence and righteousness, which he was best at, often felt like he was inferior in front of this chief, he still couldn't help but feel frustrated when he encountered him again.
Without further ado, Zhang Xing set out with dozens of riders including Jia Runshi that day. They rested all night in Changhe and were escorted by patrolmen the next day. They arrived at the farming site of Gaojibo before noon and saw the Gaojibo water as expected. The weather was rising, and the mottled swamps we had seen once in the summer had already become one.
However, the answer given by an old local farmer is somewhat reassuring - although the water has risen, it is far from flooding, as long as the rain does not go crazy in the future.
This is mainly because the surrounding water conservancy ditches were cleaned in time to relieve drought in the summer, so they were properly dredged.
Zhang Xing relaxed a little and was about to leave, but at this moment, a person suddenly appeared in front of him - it was not a chance encounter, but he smelled that he was here. He just arrived and pursued him.
"King Xiongtian... why are you in such a hurry that you actually leave the king's ministers behind and turn back in a hurry?" Zhang Xing couldn't help but be surprised.
"It's news from about seven or eight days ago. The Wu clan invaded in large numbers. There were nearly 300,000 troops in the central and eastern parts of the country. Eight out of ten of Chen Ling's men have surrendered and are heading towards Guanzhong." The person who came was exactly that. I went to Daijun and Xiongbonan in Hengshan before. "It's a very important matter. I came back directly from Dai County... I don't know if Cao Lin will take action this time."
In the drizzle, the surrounding attendants and patrolmen were already frightened. Even Dou Xiaoniang, who was always fearless, was obviously a little uneasy.
But Chief Zhang Xingzhang actually remained calm: "I have to come... To be honest, I came too late, which shows that they still haven't figured things out internally."
Seeing the other party's reaction, Xiong Bonan felt that he was making a fuss.
"By the way, there are many mountainous areas in Hengshan and Daijun. From where you come, can you see how many flash floods there are?" Zhang Xing asked seriously.
"Yes..." Xiong Bonan thought for a while and realized there were quite a few. "There is obviously more rain in autumn, and because of the drought, the rivers are not clean and the ditches are blocked a lot, so there are particularly many flash floods, and there are reports of towns being washed away."
Zhang Xing finally changed his expression. The thing he was more worried about had happened - the natural disaster had already happened, but the Dragon Gang's insistence on maintaining water conservancy made it not so obvious in their own territory. The impact of natural disasters is actually no less than military disasters. , if the two are superimposed, coupled with this year's poor harvest, it is likely to trigger a real global collapse.
In this case, the so-called "Hebei order" that he worked so hard to maintain is likely to be in vain.
Of course, that's the worst-case scenario, and the best-case scenario. As the only one that still insists on cleaning up and maintaining water conservancy in troubled times, the Deposed Dragon Gang may have some advantages as long as they work hard.
No matter what, Chief Zhang was confused for a moment.
(End of chapter)
