"General Manager, are all these Confucian scholars put in prison?"
In front of the governor's office in Guancheng County, a guard in front of the gate said hesitantly after hearing Li Jing say that all the Confucian scholars who made trouble would be arrested.
The Tang Dynasty relied on military force to build the country. Although it did not emphasize literature over military affairs as it did in the Song and Ming Dynasties, ordinary people still respected literati.
There are more than 200 Confucian scholars who came to the Governor's Mansion to cause trouble today. Compared with the literati and poets that the Cui family used to support, these are just a drop in the bucket. But if Li Jing arrests all these Confucian scholars directly, it will definitely shock the government and the public. It caused scholars all over the world to rise up and attack!
"Guancheng County has initially decided that it is necessary to stabilize people's hearts and arrest them first for interrogation. If they are not guilty, then let them go. If they are connected with the Cui family, no one can save them? What about scholars? Scholars can violate chaos. The Holy Spirit, the slanderer~?"
Li Jing also felt that the matter was difficult, but for him, the most important thing at the moment was to stabilize the people's hearts in Guancheng County.
"Yes! Manager!"
The guard clasped his fists and accepted the order. He walked to the door and loudly ordered: "Arrest all these students who are daring and slander the Holy One and put them in jail!"
"You dare? We are the children of saints, and we read the books of saints!"
A flash of panic flashed in the eyes of the leading scholar, and then he said inwardly.
"Hmph! Children of the saint? Are you worthy? What have you learned from the saint's benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faith? The saint asked you to be loyal and patriotic. Is this what you do? You are just a bunch of selfish people. , A traitor in troubled times who is obsessed with profit, is he worthy of being called a disciple of a saint? He is simply ruining the reputation of Saint Kong! Hold on!"
At this moment, an old man walked out of the governor's house and cursed at the group of Confucian scholars.
"Is this Wei Zuocheng?"
A Confucian scholar recognized the old man's identity. Who else could this old man be if he weren't Wei Zheng?
Since Wei Zheng was sent to Henan Province to crack down on officials at the beginning of this year, he has appeared in public many times. It is not surprising that someone can recognize him.
The leading student's face immediately turned pale when he saw that the person coming was Wei Zheng.
For military generals like Li Jing, he could use his eloquent skills to give Li Jing a black hat, but facing Wei Zheng, whose profession is to "troll people", he was really a little timid!
After all, this person in front of me is a super ruthless person who dares to confront His Majesty Li Er in front of him. Who can compare with him?
"Hmph! You, who do not distinguish between good and evil, loyal and evil, have read the books of sages in vain! You came to the Governor's Office today to confuse the public with your evil words, intending to incite the people to commit rebellion with you. This is really a heinous crime! I will definitely report it to the Holy One and deprive you of it. Your student status will prevent you from participating in the imperial examination for life!"
The more Wei Zheng spoke, the more annoyed he became. His last words frightened these Confucian scholars!
"Wei Zuocheng, please calm down and please don't deprive students of their academic status. We all listened to Xue Guangwen's deception and came here to cause trouble!"
"That's right! Wei Zuocheng, please calm down, we were all seduced by Xue Guangwen!"
"Please Wei Zuocheng not to deprive us of our student status!"
Evil people need evil people to grind them down, and literati naturally need literati to grind them down. Wei Zheng was also a person who had read the books of sages. He knew what these Confucian scholars cared about most, and he immediately grasped their pain points. All the Confucian scholars begged for mercy, and the leading Confucian scholar shouted angrily:
"Nonsense! You are all talking nonsense. You came here willingly. What does it have to do with me, Xue Guangwen?"
Li Jing frowned and said: "Get this Xue Guangwen and interrogate him about his relationship with the Cui family!"
"yes!"
Immediately, two sergeants, who looked like wolves and tigers, slipped Xue Guangwen away.
"General Manager, although the other Confucian scholars have been bewitched, this just shows that they do not distinguish between right and wrong, and they should be punished. Why not arrest them and imprison them for a few days as a punishment! I will report the truth to the Holy One!"
Wei Zheng looked at the other Confucian scholars, frowned, and then suggested to Li Jing.
Li Jing had this intention. When Wei Zheng said this, he became less scrupulous. He waved his hand and said, "Arrest them all for interrogation!"
"Yes~!"
A group of soldiers surrounded all the more than 200 Confucian scholars. Now that the Confucian scholars knew their fear, they knelt down and begged for mercy.
At this time, the onlookers burst into cheers.
"Okay~! Well caught! It was you people who were talking about how good the Cui family was a few days ago, and as a result, everyone in our county was almost killed!"
"You lackeys of the Cui family, just because you have read a few books, you help the Cui family confuse us people. You are so cruel, damn it!"
"That's right! I beg Wei Zuocheng and General Li to make decisions for the people and severely punish these scholars~!"
When the Cui family founded the Zhengzhou Daily, they ordered their scholars to give lectures in the streets, promote Li Er's cruelty, and praise the Cui family's benevolence, thereby encouraging the people to actively join the army and support the Cui family. However, the Cui family regarded them as kings. He was a stepping stone and a scapegoat in Tutu's hegemony, so now the people not only hate the Cui family, but also hate these Confucian scholars who help the evildoers~!
This is what the people want!
Wei Zheng pursed his lips, feeling a little sad but also a little relieved. He turned around, looked at the backs of the Confucian scholars who were being taken away, and said loudly: "This is the people's will, have you seen it? You are causing harm to the country and the people, but you are treating the saints as saints. You are a self-proclaimed disciple, you are sorry for the saint Kong, and even more sorry for the people of the world! I, Wei Xuancheng, will make sure that gentle scum like you will never be able to stand up for as long as I live in this world!"
After that, he looked at Li Jing and said: "Mr. Li, please hand over these Confucian scholars to me for trial. If there is anything illegal on them, I will never show mercy! Previously, the Holy Emperor asked Wei to come to Henan Province to purge the officials, but he didn't I thought that the Cui family would rebel in the middle. Now that the rebellion has been put down, the officialdom in Henan Province still needs to be cleared up in time, so Mr. Li, you will lead the army back to Chang'an first. I want to stay here and restore a bright future to Henan Province~!"
Li Jing was horrified and couldn't help but respect Wei Zheng, because Wei Zheng took the initiative to take on such "dirty work", obviously wanting to bear the infamy on his behalf! If he was allowed to handle this matter, it would definitely provoke the impeachment of many civil servants in the court. Wei Zheng was helping him reduce trouble!
"In this case, Wei Zuocheng is at your service!"
Li Jing cupped his hands and said: "Guancheng has been decided, and the security around Zhengzhou is also worrying. In order to prevent Wei Zuocheng from encountering the same danger as last time, I will leave five thousand troops for Wei Zuocheng to dispatch!"
Wei Zheng did not refuse, because although the Cui family had been destroyed, who knew if there were any remaining forces secretly stirring up trouble? He cupped his hands and said, "Then I'd like to thank Mr. Li~!"
………………………
At noon, after lunch, Li Jing called Meng Wenhao, handed him a letter, and said: "Send this good news back to Chang'an quickly. After the army replenishes food and grass here, we will return to the court tomorrow!"
Since Wei Zheng was willing to stay in Guancheng County to clean up this "mess", Li Jing felt that there was no need to stay here. In terms of means of reassuring the people, Wei Zheng was undoubtedly better than him, so he planned to return to the court early tomorrow morning.
Why wait until tomorrow? The main reason is that this time the army rushed to support Guancheng. In order to ensure the speed of the march, they did not bring much food and grass. If they did not replenish some food and grass in Guancheng County, the army would probably be hungry on the way back!
"Yes! Chief Steward!"
Meng Wenhao took it with both hands and was about to turn around and leave, but Li Jing stopped him: "Meng Wenhao, wait a minute~!"
Meng Wenhao looked confused, wondering what else Li Jing had going on.
Li Jing stood up, coughed twice, and a trace of embarrassment flashed across his face, "Ahem! Meng Wenhao, do you intend to make a career in the army in the future? With your talent and knowledge in telegraph machines, I can persuade the Holy lord, What do you think about giving you a position as a recorder and joining the army?"
Poaching people, the mighty military god of the Tang Dynasty actually wants to poach people. Because of Han Yuxi, Li Zexuan is Li Jing's junior after all, but now Li Jing actually wants to poach someone's students. No wonder he had an embarrassed look on his face just now.
Meng Wenhao obviously didn't expect that Li Jing would say this to him. Hearing this, he was stunned for a moment, then took two steps back, bowed solemnly and replied: "The General Manager has great military exploits and is powerful in the world. It is true that I can work by your side." It's my honor, but Wen Hao's skills were all taught to me by the commander. Even if Wen Hao wants to join the army, he has to get the consent of the commander! Besides, the commander's engineering studies, the boy has only scratched the surface. I don’t want to leave Yanhuang Academy now, so I hope the chief manager can forgive me~!”
Li Jing's face suddenly turned red. He waved his hand and said, "Ahem! It doesn't matter! I'm just asking casually. I can't take it seriously. When you return to Yunshan, don't mention this to your mountain chief!"
If Li Zexuan knew about this kind of thing, where would he put his old face? At this time, Li Jing regretted having just said this!
Meng Wenhao couldn't help but smile in his heart, and secretly thought that Li Jing, the invincible military god of the Tang Dynasty, would be so embarrassed. It was really rare!
"Don't worry, Chief Manager, the boy didn't hear anything just now! But I have something to say, should I take it seriously~?"
Meng Wenhao cupped his hands and said.
Li Jing raised his eyebrows and said, "Oh? Wen Hao, tell me!"
Meng Wenhao said: "It is actually not difficult for the General Manager to want the telegraph machine to be used in the military on a large scale! The mountain commander's promotion of engineering is to allow the students in the academy to apply what they have learned. The mountain manager will definitely be very happy to help the General Manager in this matter. !”
Li Jing's eyes lit up and he suddenly realized that, indeed, to poach people behind the scenes, it would be better to go directly to Li Zexuan, the "head" of the engineering school!
When Meng Wenhao saw that Li Jing was silent and lost in thought, he quietly withdrew.
……………………
"Father, a great victory in Guancheng! General Manager Li sent a telegram saying that Cui Junchuo, the head of the Cui family, and Pan Zhenyue, the governor of Zhengzhou, have both surrendered, and the army will return to the court tomorrow~!"
In Chang'an City, Li Er had just finished lunch when Li Tai rushed over and reported.
"Oh? Guancheng County is broken so quickly~? Quick! Bring it to me to see~!"
Li Er was so surprised that he couldn't open his mouth from ear to ear. Two days ago, he was still worrying about how to conquer Guancheng. Today, news came that Guancheng was breached, which really surprised him!
Li Tai quickly handed over the telegram. Since he was not rushing to march this time, he had plenty of time to send the telegram. Therefore, this telegram described the story of the great destruction of Guancheng County in great detail. Li Er read it for a full quarter of an hour. , and finally finished reading it, he couldn’t help but sigh:
"Good! No innocent people were harmed, and our soldiers did not suffer too many casualties. This plan of internal and external cooperation worked well! Liu Rengui? This man is also a talented person, brave and resourceful. The governor of Bianzhou sent him to manage the city. What a party Oh! If it weren't for him, Wei Xuancheng might have encountered something unexpected this time!
This Li Yu was actually able to stay in a crisis situation without causing chaos. She helped the army exchange information and cooperated internally and externally. When she and Ye Fashan went to govern the county, I was worried that they would ruin my major event, but I didn't expect that in the end she would be responsible for the entire war. The key figures in the battle, as well as Meng Wenhao and Tiedan, all contributed greatly to this battle. These people around Li Zexuan are really extraordinary people! "
I am no longer in the world, but my legend is everywhere in the world.
Nowadays, there is a person who, although he did not go to the battlefield in person, the outcome of the war was reversed because of him. This person is Li Zexuan!
Whether Ye Fashan and Li Yu teamed up to secretly visit Guancheng, or Meng Wenhao and Tiedan went out with the army, or finally Liu Rengui successfully used the strategy of combining inside and outside, there was more or less the shadow of Li Zexuan behind it!
"Father, now that Guancheng has been destroyed and General Manager Li has returned to the court, there should be no military affairs that need to be contacted by telegram. Therefore, I plan to return to Yanhuang Academy this afternoon and ask for your permission!"
Li Tai cupped his hands and said.
To be honest, he was really not used to being away from the academy for so many days! Now that the war is over, he naturally wants to return to Yunshan as soon as possible.
Li Eryi was startled and said angrily: "You kid, are you so unwilling to stay with your father and mother~?"
"I don't dare! I just saw the important role of engineering in the Tang Dynasty from this war. I want to complete my studies as soon as possible so that I can help my father secure the country and conquer the world in the future~!"
Li Tai quickly gave a reason and blocked Li Er's mouth.
When Li Er heard this, Long Yan was delighted: "Haha! Okay! He is indeed my good son! Then go ahead!"
……………………
The next day, the school field in the east of Guancheng County.
After the three armies were assembled, Li Jing gave the order and the army set off. Tens of thousands of soldiers moved in turn and returned to the court!
"Congratulations to General Li. Have a good trip, General!"
What is unexpected is that the people of Guancheng County were waiting early in the morning on the only way for the army to leave the city. People on both sides of the street rushed to hear the news. When the army passed by, countless people shouted loudly.
Now the people understand that the Cui family was just using them and not really doing their best. If Li Jing hadn't led the army to come, the people in Guancheng County might have all given up for Cui Junchuo's personal hegemony. Lose your life.
It was Li Jing's Master Wang who saved them, of course they would be grateful from the bottom of their hearts!
"Wen Hao, seeing these people, I now feel that the risks I have taken in the past half month are worth it. Otherwise, many children will lose their parents due to the war and become orphans like me~ !”
Xiao Yu'er was riding a horse, walking side by side with Meng Wenhao. Listening to the shouts of the people on both sides of the road, she couldn't help but sigh.
Meng Wenhao thought for a while and said: "I also feel that everything I did was worth it. I not only saved you but also saved these people. The mountain chief taught us that we should set up our hearts for the world and our lives for the people. I will do it." arrive!"
……………………
. m.
