The officials of Yuyang County also received urgent letters about what happened in Zhuo County. They gathered in the study room in the backyard of the official office to discuss countermeasures. It was afternoon time, and rays of sunlight shined brightly on the people in the study through the windows of the study in the backyard of Yuyang Hall. However, although the light was very bright, the atmosphere inside was extremely depressing, and everyone's face was gloomy and ugly.
In the Sui Dynasty, a dynasty that judged people based on their appearance, and those who were ugly were not allowed to be officials. The appearance and temperament of Yuyang Prefect Gao Shikai were indeed as handsome as jade. Although he was already in his forties, he was more handsome than younger men. More mature charm. The official hat had been removed from his head, and he was sitting at the top of the table with an indifferent expression. Hearing the whispers of the people below, he felt unspeakably irritated.
"Prefect, the officers who were ordered to investigate are all close men of King Wei. They will not be polite to us. We have to make an idea quickly." The speaker was a tall, burly, curly-haired, handsome man. A dignified person, this is County Magistrate Shi and Wang Shichong's eldest brother Wang Shishi.
Sima Wei Xianzong took the words and said hurriedly: "Yes, Governor, if you keep waiting like this, I'm afraid the people from King Wei will arrive. Once they forcefully open the warehouse for inspection, everything will be exposed."
More than 20 other county officials looked anxiously at the expressionless Gao Shikai.
Gao, Wang, and Wei were close confidants of the Yuan family. Not only did they know about the Yuan family, they also used their authority to help the Yuan family do many illegal things that violated regulations; and these twenty people He is the confidant of Gao, Yuan and Wei, so they also know everything Gao, Yuan and Wei know and do.
As the saying goes, one's family knows one's own affairs. Everyone present knows what is going on in the free warehouse and the official warehouse. They even know the whereabouts of the food and the real mastermind.
Because of this, they knew that once the matter was exposed, not only would they die, but their parents, wives, and children would also be killed by the brutal god of death.
"Lord Linghu Bo, what do you have in mind?" Gao Shikai has been worried about these difficult matters for the past few days and can't sleep at night. He stared at a pair of bloodshot eyes and looked at a man with a frown like "Chuan" An old man with a goatee in Chinese characters. This old man's name is Linghu Yijie, and he is the master of Yuyang.
"Prefect, I think the current plan is to repeat the old tricks. There is no other way." Linghu Yijie was already prepared. He took a map from the table in front of him and said slowly : "Yuyang County is only one county. There are 5,925 households in the whole county, and there are less than 40 free warehouses. The official's intention is to burn these empty warehouses to ashes before King Wei's people arrive."
Gao Shikai was noncommittal, Wang Shishi frowned and said nothing, but Wei Xianzong was overjoyed. He nodded in agreement and said excitedly: "What Lord Linghu Bo said is absolutely true. As long as there is no proof, the best we can do is Dereliction of duty is not punishable by death.”
Wang Shishi also thought about this method, but he felt that this method was not feasible and would not work. Seeing that the prefect was silent, he shook his head and said: "This method is no longer effective. After the self-defense king announced that the food in each county's warehouse had been stolen, , the soldiers and civilians in all counties are paying attention to the charity warehouse. From time to time, a large number of people appear around the charity warehouse to watch, and from time to time they ask the charity warehouse steward to open the warehouse, so it is difficult for our people to set the fire. Even if the fire is successful, the people can put out the fire as soon as possible. "
】
Having said this, Wang Shishi glanced at everyone and said worriedly: "Before this, I didn't quite understand why King Wei wanted to alert the snake. Didn't this give all my officials a chance to make amends? But now it seems that King Wei is also worried Someone planned to burn down the charity warehouse to obtain evidence of ecstasy, but he himself was short of manpower, so he used the people of various counties and counties to serve as soldiers to protect the warehouse, and to act as his ears, eyes and mouthpieces. And the passers-by and people around the county government offices might They all came to supervise and monitor us on their own."
He paused for a moment and then added: "It's not that I am a warrior and unfounded, but that King Wei is the best at inciting people's hearts and minds. Many aristocratic families and officials in Liangzhou were reported by the people and were eventually captured."
After hearing Wang Shishi's last words, everyone's faces changed. They all know that although many dirty things in the officialdom can be deceived by the superiors, they cannot be hidden from the subordinates at all.
The reason why the people don't "know" those dirty things is not that they really don't know. First, they are intimidated by the power and authority in the hands of officials and dare not do anything; second, they have no one who dares to be the leader, and they are leaderless. It's like this; it's best to swallow your anger and dare not speak out. If a powerful figure comes to help them, they will reveal everything they know.
However, when the vast majority of officials face those dirty things, they mostly choose to pretend to be deaf and mute and turn a blind eye, and the people can never wake up these people who pretend to be sleeping; therefore, there are very few powerful big figures that the people expect. The reason why famous upright officials are talked about and highly praised by people is actually because there are few of them, and it is because the people long for all officials in the world to be upright.
As for the nosy Yang Ji, although he is a strong and upright official welcomed and favored by the people, for corrupt officials, he is a god of death, evil and disaster that is hated to the bone.
When Gao Shikai heard the end, his face was covered with a heavy look of worry, and he said in a hoarse voice: "Yes, this is what I am most worried about."
"Isn't a war imminent now? Perhaps, we can do it this way..." Wang Shishi's eyes suddenly burst out with a ruthless light, and he lowered his voice and said: "When the two armies are fighting, they always use all means, and Goguryeo sent agents to enter the country. , Is it reasonable? In order to destroy the morale of our army, Goguryeo's deeds burned down the logistics, killed people and set fires. Is it reasonable?"
"It's reasonable and reasonable!" Everyone's eyes lit up and their hearts burned. This method can indeed solve the current problem; in order to survive, they sent people to dress up as Goguryeo dead soldiers to kill some people and set some fires, so what?
"Prefect!" Seeing that Gao Shikai was silent and did not express his position for a long time, Wang Shishi stared at him closely and said in a deep voice: "This is the only way, and it is also the only way for us and our family to survive, and King Wei's People are coming soon, so I hope the eunuch will make a decision soon."
"Yes, Prefect, we don't have much time!"
"Stop hesitating and make a decision!"
Everyone also spoke out to persuade and urge.
"A big thing has happened, Sheriff, a big thing has happened, Sheriff." However, just when Gao Shikai was about to make a decision, an official broke in from the front hall and shouted loudly outside the study.
Gao Shikai said angrily: "Why are you so panicked? Come in and talk!"
"Here!" A very young civil servant pushed open the door and entered. Under the inquiring eyes of everyone, he bowed his hand to Gao Shikai and said, "To the prefect, after an army numbering tens of thousands entered Yuyang County, among them There is a partial division with about 5,000 horsemen running directly towards Wuzhong County."
Gao Shi jumped up from his seat happily and anxiously, and asked anxiously: "How long has it been? The army is here?"
"Exactly!" This young civil servant's name is Liu Demin, who is currently serving as the Yuyang County Magistrate. He has been in office for less than half a year. He said solemnly: "According to the reports from the scouts, this army will be ready in half an hour at most. Arrived in town."
Gao Shikai knew that he couldn't mess up, otherwise, their group would be just a bunch of rabble. He took a deep breath, tried to calm down, and asked pretending to be calm: "Has this partial division ever raised a banner?"
"The flag is 'Wei Wang Yang'. If nothing else, it should be the handsome flag of King Wei." When Liu Demin lowered his head, a teasing smile appeared on his lips. The people in front of them only knew that he was Xuzhou Pengcheng scholar Liu Demin. He was the heir of Zheng, but he didn't know that his biological father's name was Liu Quan.
Who is Liu Quan?
The mainstay of the King Wei family.
The words "King Wei's handsome flag" were like a bolt from the blue, leaving everyone present dumbfounded, dumbfounded, and horrified beyond words.
Gao Shi's face was ashen and the corners of his mouth were trembling. He looked at the earth-colored officials and said with confusion: "They are all here to prepare for the reception. I will go to see Duke Yuan immediately." After saying that, he picked up the cup. The official hat on the table was strode away.
