Chapter 319 (Golden Platform)
After hearing the rejection, Old County Magistrate Wu was overjoyed at first and then became filled with deep sadness. He helped his daughter up and brought her to him: "With your good words, it would be great if the prince could take us in. "
He also knew that Youzhou was at war with Taiyuan. There were fewer grain-producing areas in Youzhou than in Jianghuai. Even Jianghuai was in drought this year. The life in Youzhou was probably not very rich either. Old County Magistrate Wu thought uneasily. , these people he brought are a big burden.
"Magistrate Wu was working well as a county magistrate in Cangwu Prefecture. Why did he suddenly bring the refugees to Youzhou?" Lian Shiqing said.
The wrinkled face of the old county magistrate Wu added a bit of bitterness. He said: "There is a drought in Cangwu this year. There would not be a famine originally. But the nephew of the prefect is so greedy that he diverts spring water into the river. Every household wants to You had to pay money to water the seedlings, but the people had no money left, so many people starved to death."
"It's too horrible to watch." Old County Magistrate Wu wiped his tears with his tattered sleeves: "I was so angry that I simply left Cangwu with those refugees who were willing to follow me."
After hearing this, Lian Shiqing said: "You always brought a large group of refugees, and you also knew that no state or county would take over now, so you remembered that the general built a golden platform to attract talents from all over the world, so he took them to Youzhou. "
The old magistrate Wu was told by Magistrate Lian that he was ashamed of himself. Zhou Youzhou was looking for talents, not a bunch of emaciated refugees who were crying out for food.
"I beg the Sheriff to show me a clear path, what should I do?" Old County Magistrate Wu bowed and had some changes in his view of the rumored corrupt official. Since he arrived at the Sheriff's Mansion in Taiyang County, Lord Lian has always treated people with courtesy. He also opened a warehouse to help the victims outside. Compared with Magistrate Wu's previous speculation about Master Lian, it seemed that he was deeply prejudiced and couldn't help but feel ashamed.
Lian Shiqing sighed and said: "I am just a small county governor. The area I govern is also in Youzhou. There are a lot of senior officials above me. I dare not give advice. The final result depends on the wishes of the young master."
As for whether the young master accepts them or not, that is the young master's business.
"I will write a letter to tell the young master what happened." Lian Shiqing said. Now the general is in Jianghuai, and everything in Youzhou is taken care of by the young master, deputy envoy Zhou Xuan, secretary Zhao Qingshan and others. His old god is here There was no intention of favoring County Magistrate Wu in his words, which made Old County Magistrate Wu a little disappointed. After walking out of the Magistrate's Mansion, Old Magistrate Wu rejected his previous thoughts. Magistrate Lian could give them some advice. Eating is already a surprise, and people must learn to be content.
Wait until Old County Magistrate Wu and the others leave.
Lian Shiqing's expression slightly condensed.
As soon as Magistrate Wu and this group of refugees entered the jurisdiction of Youzhou, almost all the prefectures and counties they passed through maintained a strange silence and unanimously allowed these people to flow to Langge.
The banner put up by the old county magistrate Wu was very useful. In Lian Shiqing's opinion, the old magistrate Wu recommended himself to the Golden Platform in a decisive way.
The real owner of this golden platform is not at home for the time being.
The young master is in charge.
In other words, whether Old County Magistrate Wu was intentional or not, his client was actually Zhou Youzhou. To a certain extent, whether Old County Magistrate Wu was a talented person is open to question, but it is undeniable that since he abandoned his official position, The moment he sealed it, he was from Zhou Youzhou in the eyes of the world.
Lian Shiqing relaxed his body and sat on the chair. With so much land acquired by Youzhou, most of the officials appointed were from Zhou Youzhou, while the young master's people, or rather their power, were concentrated in the main city of Langge.
Seriously, he, Lian Shiqing, is also from Zhou Youzhou. Now his old subordinates are keeping calm, and most of them are observing what the young master will do.
In this silent investigation, what will the young master do? On one side are the food shortages, on the other are the hungry refugees. The general is in Jianghuai, and a war is imminent. There must be no mistakes in the rear, not to mention the lack of food. On the other side are the unarmed refugees.
Lian Shiqing turned the jade ring on his hand. In fact, if he could survive, the trust brought by the old county magistrate Wu would become a huge advantage that won the hearts of the people, but the premise of all this was that he could survive.
Without enough food, if a mistake is made in the rear battle, who will bear the general's thunderous wrath and the serious consequences of the mistake.
Young Master, what will he choose?
Amidst the anxiety of the old county magistrate Wu, they arrived in Langge. The refugees were still placed outside the city. Magistrate Wu was very frightened when he set foot in Langge for the first time, because he himself was not a talented person and had never He became famous at a young age and was not a late bloomer. He is just a mediocre ordinary person. He is nothing more than committing a deception.
The shining of the golden platform burned the eyes of old county magistrate Wu.
The Golden Terrace is indeed as legendary, extremely luxurious and gorgeous, with gold foil pillars, glazed tiles, high-rise buildings, and continuous roof tiles. On the huge plaque are the three characters "Golden Terrace" inscribed by Zhou Youzhou himself. When you look up, you can It makes every aspiring talent feel a sense of heroism and excitement, and there are arrogant couplets on the left and right.
Only generals will not get out of the golden platform.
Incompatible with the sapphire case.
In this world, what we seek is nothing more than to leave a name in history.
The most eye-catching thing is the words of the saint inscribed on the huge stone tablet standing in front of the house. Magistrate Wu doesn't know how other people saw that stone tablet. He only knows that the moment he saw it, the dry river of his heart There was a violent neighing that he had never heard before.
Madam Wu supported her father's shaking body. She had just come back to her senses after witnessing the shock with her own eyes. She looked at the tall building of Golden Terrace and heard that there were all kinds of books collected inside.
After the old county magistrate Wu stood up, he was about to let his daughter take his post to meet the person in charge of the Golden Platform. Unexpectedly, the next moment, the door was opened immediately.
An extraordinary and heroic man walked too hastily, and the jade pendant around his waist and the handle of his sword hit each other, making the sound of broken jade. He seemed to be in a hurry to see him, and even put on his left and right shoes backwards.
"May I ask if you are Mr. Wu?" Zhou Shenzhi held the old county magistrate's hand tightly, with excitement and enthusiasm on his face.
County Magistrate Wu nodded hesitantly: "I am, you are..."
Zhou Shenzhi said: "I am the young master of Youzhou."
The old county magistrate Wu panicked and was about to salute immediately, but was firmly held by the young man's big hands.
Zhou Shenzhi said solemnly: "Mr. Wu is not afraid of power, pleads for the people, and goes all the way to Langge. It is my great fortune in Youzhou."
"Sir, please take a seat!" Zhou Shenzhi invited sideways.
The old county magistrate Wu burst into tears and was extremely moved. He bowed to the young master of Youzhou and said: "A certain person has no merit in his body, his status is humble and his life is ruined. He brings his people to surrender. I heard that there is a master in Youzhou in Zhou Dynasty. I will not hesitate to step forward." Three feet away, I am willing to use my broken body to repay the kindness of knowing you."
Zhou Shenzhi held Old County Magistrate Wu's arm, asked him to stand up, and said, "Mr. Wu, there is no need to be polite. I will take care of the people you brought."
The old county magistrate Wu paid his respects again: "Thank you so much, Young Master. Your kindness is unparalleled. The hungry people in my generation have thanked you for your great kindness."
Zhou Shenzhi sent the person to the golden platform and entertained him well. During this period, the old county magistrate Wu burst into tears of gratitude to Zhou Youzhou and the young master of Youzhou. He choked up and could not speak several times and worshiped his kindness.
During the banquet, a scribe in blue used a carving knife to carve this scene on a bamboo slip. Xie Deyong felt as if he had a toothache and whispered beside the man: "Nowadays, we have pens, inks, paper and inkstones for writing notes. Why does the Fifth Prince use this kind of thing?" method?"
Wu Changfeng raised his head and smiled and said: "Such a big event must be treated seriously. The first stroke of history written by historians is on the bamboo slips. Later generations will use the pen as a sword, and their words will hang in the sky. Our generation should follow suit."
Xie Deyong took advantage of the opportunity to take a peek and saw clearly what the fifth clerk had written previously. It was about his friend Zhou Shenzhi hearing that the old magistrate Wu was coming, and he walked backwards to greet him, and what the old magistrate said was also engraved in his heart. When I went up, the identity of the master was particularly deeply engraved on the simple book.
Fifth Changfeng put away the bamboo slips, and the banquet in the house was over.
Xie Deyong glanced at the young man who had been very close to his friend Shen Zhi in the past six months, and found that he naturally stepped forward and took off Shen Zhi's left and right boots that did not fit.
Zhou Shenzhi sat on the main seat. He drank some wine and waved his hands: "No, no, Changfeng's hands are used for writing. I can do this little thing myself."
The Fifth Chief Feng Hou stood beside the young master. He was startled for a moment when he heard the words, and then smiled and said: "The young master took my advice and the boots did not fit. I am free to correct my mistakes."
Zhou Shenzhi put on the boots. After putting them on left and right, there was no feeling of squeezing anymore. He said: "Without outsiders here, Changfeng, you don't need to be here."
Xie Deyong snorted coldly from his nostrils. He always felt uncomfortable in his heart, but when he heard his friend say that there were no outsiders, his discomfort was finally relieved. His eyebrows were stained with worry, and then it disappeared in a flash. Things in Luoyang and Chang'an He had also heard some of it, but the more so, the less he could act weak.
"From now on, drinking is prohibited in the mansion, and people are no longer allowed to make wine." Zhou Shenzhi poured two glasses of wine: "I will also issue a notice on the ban on alcohol in the military camp. General Yuwen sent an order to the three armies. Today is the last Golden Terrace banquet. Don't drink too much. I won’t have anything to drink for a long time.”
After that, he gave Wu Changfeng and Xie Deyong a cup each.
The two took it.
The three of them drank together.
After Xie Deyong finished drinking, he mentioned something that only they knew, and said: "Can't you drink the wine you made last year?"
Zhou Shenzhi glanced at him: "You want to be beaten, don't you?"
Xie Deyong smiled and said: "Don't worry, I won't steal wine."
Zhou Shenzhi was silent for a while and said, "Do you think I did the right thing this time?"
Xie Deyong thought for a while and said, "I think it's right."
"This is your own choice, young master, and I will only support you." Wu Changfeng continued: "Youzhou prohibits alcohol and extravagant banquets. You set an example, eat simple meals every day, tighten your own rations, and help the victims. This It’s an act of kindness.”
Zhou Shenzhi looked at Wu Changfeng: "What if I choose another path?"
"In times of crisis, there is nothing wrong with putting one's own safety first," Wu Changfeng said.
This person said both positive and negative things about the co-author, and Xie Deyong was speechless to Wu Changfeng.
Zhou Shenzhi had no intention of being cheerful. Those refugees had low combat power and would only consume his own food reserves. He could have just kept a few people from the old county magistrate Wu to show his preferential treatment to his father's people. But for some reason, Zhou Shenzhi Thinking of the few words that A-mei once said to him, that the people live and work in peace and contentment without the worry of starving to death, he can watch those people starve to death today, how can he change his temperament and become a great shelter from suffering in the future?
"Will father be satisfied?" Zhou Shenzhi murmured. By doing this, would he be a little too kind? In his father's eyes, he might be disregarding the overall situation and be soft and weak, unlike him.
No one dared to answer this question.
Chapter 320 (Emperor’s Fall)
When Prince Bao first arrived in Jianghuai, there was an uproar among the people.
The source of the storm is the late emperor who has long since died. He is mentioned again and again. The grievances with the foreign enemy Turks cannot be completely eliminated even after more than ten years. Those who have suffered the pain of war are still alive, and those impassioned tragic songs The poems were still being transmitted orally, and the topic was naturally the late emperor and Prince Bao secretly sending bows and crossbows to the enemy for treason! The witnesses and physical evidence are all there.
No matter which word this topic was used in, it was shocking and aroused people's hearts. For a while, many people ran to the carriage where Prince Bao was passing, wanting to know what happened.
The person who was seen was Wang An, a Jixing person who served as a witness. His feet were chained and he was standing in a prison car. His hands were shackled and his hair was disheveled. Next to him was a wooden sign holding evidence of his collusion with the enemy, including a The correspondence documents between Zhang Zhang and Hui Yi, as well as the crossbows that were lost outside the Great Wall, were confirmed. Wang An was smashed by the angry people and smashed vegetable leaves. He was covered in saliva. Some indignant people even picked up stones from the roadside and smashed them. In the past, Wang An was smashed until his face was covered with blood, he screamed repeatedly, and his reputation was completely ruined.
Prince Bao, who was old and aged, was sitting in a luxurious chariot with no shelter from all sides. He looked at Wang An's miserable state and covered his face with his sleeves in fear. As he entered the belly of Jianghuai, the out-of-control impact of the people's crazy curses became more and more intense. The more I walked, the more I walked, and it felt like I was being tortured in front of thousands of people.
And he was not in a good position. More and more people asked him whether he and the late emperor were responsible for committing treason against the enemy. Prince Bao could not open his mouth at first. He vaguely knew that Zhou Youzhou invited him to come to Jianghuai this time. What to do.
Zhou Youzhou had been lurking for so long just for this moment, allowing him to personally dig up the foundation of Dachu.
At a time when the Great Chu was in turmoil, for him to be involved in such a scandal, for the king of a country to commit treason against the enemy. Is there anything in the world that is more ridiculous, absurd, and chilling than this? ! The Tian family is disgraced and the people are devastated. Every word he speaks will turn into a tomb for Da Chu.
Prince Bao truly felt what it was like to be miserable.
Yi Fan rode on the horse and looked coldly at Wang An, Prince Bao and others. The general was kind and brought Prince Bao's family to Jianghuai. Now Prince Bao's family members are hiding in the car at the back tremblingly. In the big carriage, I didn't dare to come out to see anyone.
On the official road, the questioning became louder and louder.
People crowded together and loudly asked Prince Bao whether he had committed treason with the late emperor! Prince Bao hated that the chariot was not blocked by gauze curtains. He couldn't pretend that he couldn't hear the angry questions and couldn't see those eyes that wanted to devour others.
Yi Fan walked slowly with the others. When they arrived at Jianghuai, he was no longer in a hurry.
Next to the crowded official road, on a hot day, amidst the waves of condemnation, a vicissitudes of voice broke in, and an old man with neatly combed hair, slightly graying, and wearing a patchwork official uniform was struggling to Pushing away the dark crowd, he roared loudly: "I don't believe it. Now that the rebels are in power, how can we just listen to the rebels? What's the evidence? I want evidence, not Wang An's evidence!"
He shouted hoarsely, stretched out his hand and waved it loudly: "This is evidence of the imperial court's collusion outside the Great Wall! I don't believe that the imperial court can do such a thing! I don't believe it!"
When the people around him saw that he was an official, they pushed less hard, but they still cursed with righteous indignation. How could they not hate it? Back then, the Turks went south and plundered people wantonly. If they resisted, they would destroy villages and massacre cities for hundreds of miles. There is no human habitation, no chickens and dogs are heard in the streets, it is not an exaggeration to say that there is a blood feud, but now suddenly hearing someone calling out the injustice to the court, many people are angry from the bottom of their hearts.
The old official was punched. In the chaos, he couldn't see clearly who hit him. There were too many people. He stood on the defense line composed of Youzhou soldiers. Unlike the common people who were afraid of these soldiers with swords, he became more and more hissing. Shout: "I want evidence!"
"This is a conspiracy by the rebels against Da Chu. Don't believe it! Don't believe it!" He waved his hands in vain. He was an official of Da Chu, so it must be a conspiracy by the rebels.
Yi Fan raised his hand slightly, and the defense line was empty. The old official stumbled into the circle. He looked around, caught up with the chariot, and struggled to pull on the armrest of the chariot. His eyes were wide open and bloodshot. The shrill voice was like a crow's howling, which temporarily overwhelmed all the noisy sounds on the roadside: "Wang An is a businessman who is obsessed with doing business with foreign enemies. He deserves to die. But your Prince Bao is a member of the royal family, and now he has joined forces with thieves to slander him." The late emperor intends to destroy the country of Chu, how can your conscience be at ease?"
Finally, he asked sharply.
Yi Fan rode to the chariot on the other side of Prince Bao.
Prince Bao's face was covered in cold sweat. His withered hands resting on the armrests of the chariot, he shrank back as if he was electrocuted. Under the gorgeous Shu brocade, his body shrank pitifully like a piece of rotten wood that was about to die. An old man looked at Yi Fan with pleading eyes.
Yi Fan just said: "Since some people have doubts, the prince should provide evidence to prove that Youzhou did not wrongly accuse you and the late emperor, in case some people still don't give up."
Prince Bao was shaking all over. He was about to get angry when he was cornered, but suddenly he heard the cry of his great-great-grandson in the carriage at the end. The baby cried loudly, piercing his eardrums, and made him feel lonely and brave.
