Gou Xi, also known as Daojiang, had previously been promoted to general of Fujun, governor of Yanzhou, Jiejie, and military governor of Yanzhou and Qingzhou based on his military achievements.
He was so strict that even his own cousin was executed for violating the punishment.
When Gou Xi was the pillar of the imperial court and defeated Gongshifan, Jisang, and Shile, the powerful minister Sima Yuedu wanted to win over him and make him a brother of a different surname.
After Ji Sang was beheaded and Shi Le fled in fear, Gou Xi, the sharpest knife, became a thorn in Sima Yue's side.
Under the advice of his close minister Pan Tao, Sima Yue transferred Gou Xi to Qingzhou from Yanzhou, which was close to the center of Luoyang and had been operating for many years.
Qingzhou, Linzi.
"Hmph, Liu Yu, a Donglai bastard, how dare you!"
With a clang, a copper lamp was thrown to the ground. Gou Xi, who was sitting upright behind the long desk, scolded.
A large group of people below were all subordinate officials of the Gou Xi shogunate. When they saw their Ming Gong getting angry, they were all cautious and did not dare to express their anger.
After all, Gou Xi had only been in Qingzhou for a month and had already earned the nickname "Butcher" among the people. Anyone who dared to disobey him, whether they were common people or nobles, were killed by him without blinking an eye. How dare they, the government officials, get into trouble at this time.
"Cause your anger."
Wen Fanfan, who was kneeling down, said tremblingly. He couldn't help but secretly regret why he took the initiative to take the task of scolding the Donglai County Sheriff.
After Gou Xi was transferred from Yanzhou to Qingzhou, he used his reputation to suppress the local powerful in Qingzhou, and on the other hand, he quickly collected taxes from various places to train his troops.
When Gou Xi learned that Liu Yu, the governor of Donglai County, had exempted taxes within his jurisdiction without authorization, he immediately became furious.
Gou Xi immediately ordered someone to bring a warrant of reprimand to hold Liu Yu accountable, and asked him to make up for this year's taxes within two months. Liu Yu himself escorted him to Linzi, and then explained to the Qingzhou governor face to face that he had arbitrarily exceeded the exemption issued by Liu Yu. tax crime.
According to the political rules of the Western Jin Dynasty, it is the most severe punishment for a state governor to use a formal document to reprimand a subordinate county guard. If it is more severe, the emperor can only remove him and hold him accountable.
Gou Xi's civil servant Fan Wu took the initiative to ask Ying to go to Donglai County. He felt that Gou Xi's Han Bai was very famous at that time. If he issued such a stern official document, it would frighten the prefect of Donglai County into panic all day long. .
In this way, he can make a fortune. After all, the world is getting more and more chaotic. It seems that nothing is safe. Only Brother Kong Fang can be relied on.
However, what Fan Ren never expected was that Liu Yu, the governor of Donglai County, did not even have a decent reply after seeing the warrant from Gou Xi, the governor of Qingzhou. He ordered his men to escort him and his entourage out of the country that day, and Fan When he left, he found that the soldiers from Donglai County had strengthened the defense of the pass, as if they were facing a formidable enemy.
"Calm down? Humph, a Donglai thief who doesn't know how high the sky is is not worthy of my anger."
Gou Xi sneered, and the beard on his mouth twitched twice. This action every time he got angry betrayed his true thoughts.
Now that the world is in chaos, Gou Xi vaguely feels that an era of great strife comparable to the Three Kingdoms at the end of Han Dynasty is coming.
He had worked hard to protect the integrity of Yanzhou. On the one hand, he wanted to repay the kindness of King Donghai for his support and trust, and on the other hand, he wanted to follow the example of Emperor Wu of Wei when Cao Cao established his own empire in Yanzhou.
I just didn't expect that as soon as I settled down in Yanzhou, I would be forced to come to Qingzhou by Sima Yue, King of the East China Sea.
Compared with Yanzhou, Qingzhou is blocked by rivers, Jishui and Mount Tai, which is very unfavorable for sending troops to intervene in the war in the Central Plains.
Moreover, Qingzhou had just experienced the rebellion of Liu Bogen and Wang Mi, and its supply reserves were far inferior to those of Yanzhou.
However, Liu Yu, the governor of Donglai County, refused to pay taxes. For Gou Xi, who was eager to establish his prestige in Qingzhou, it was not only a matter of how much grain and grass taxes were paid, but also a challenge to his own authority.
"You, Fan Ren, go to Donglai again and tell Liu Yu that I have ordered him to come to Laizi within five days to apologize. If not, I will personally lead the army to bring justice to his Majesty, the traitor who has overstepped his power! "
Fan Zhi below heard this and quickly said yes again and again.
Donglai County, Yinxian County.
"General, there is news from Linzi that Gou Shijun wants you to arrive in Linzi within five days to apologize. Otherwise, troops will be sent to attack Donglai."
Guo Cen, a meritorious officer under Liu Yu, said.
Guo Cen is a descendant of the Guo family in Donglai County. The Guo family has been in the Guo family for hundreds of years and is particularly good at business. After receiving the salt benefits allocated by Liu Pre, he almost became the most popular salt merchant in the entire Qingxu area.
The Donglai salt merchants headed by the Guo family not only filled the gap in salt supply caused by the war, but even squeezed out some small private salt merchants in Qingxu and Xuzhou to the point of death. After all, the cost of the salt-drying method was very high. Much lower than the boiled salt method.
"I have heard that this Gou Shijun seems to have a bad temper."
Liu Yu chuckled.
Guo Cen and other powerful men in Donglai County have slowly begun to share weal and woe with Liu Yu.
"It's not just because of his bad temper. I heard that Gou Xi was severely punished in Linzi City. People were beheaded every day. The ground on the execution ground in front of Dongshifang saw blood every day and was almost never dried."
Guo Cen said with sadness.
Compared with Gou Xixiang, the Liu Yu in front of him was simply a benevolent person. After all, Liu Yu did not use too many severe punishments to punish them except recruiting soldiers from various powerful families who brought their own rations.
"So, Gou Shijun must be tired of killing people in Linzi and wants to come to our Donglai County to kill some people to relieve his boredom."
Liu Yu said calmly.
Guo Cen couldn't help but feel a little anxious when he saw that Liu Yu didn't care about it at all. Gou Xi was Han Bai who was victorious in every battle, and you, Liu Yu, were a local traitor in Donglai County, and you were also the boss who was killed by the imperial court. You are a remnant of traitors, how can you have the confidence not to be afraid of "Uncle Butcher" Gou Xi?
Of course, Guo Cen would not say these things in his heart.
"I want to remind the general to prepare early in case Gou Xi suddenly attacks."
Guo Cen reminded Liu Yu kindly.
"We have plenty of time. It will take several days just for the envoy to go back and forth. In addition, we must gather the food, grass and baggage for the army to set off. Even though Linzi is not far from Donglai County, it will be impossible to come here in less than ten days."
"In this case, why not attack first? The powerful people in Beihai County have had enough of Gou Xi's tyranny. As long as the general leads his army to Beihai County, all the powerful people there will definitely obey."
Guo Cen began to suggest that Liu Yu take the initiative to capture Beihai County, which was adjacent to Donglai County.
Liu Yu was quite surprised to hear what Guo Cen said. He really didn't expect that these powerful men in the Western Jin Dynasty had such low moral standards for the court.
Liu Yu thought to himself, even if you Guo Cen is right, then I can't go out so early and use offense as defense to deal with Gou Xi.
He didn't want both himself and Gou Xi to suffer in a fight between tigers and wolves, giving these powerful foxes who had just settled down for a few days a chance to take the lead.
In fact, in his heart, Liu Yu hoped that Gou Xi would kill more powerful people, so that the powerful people in Donglai County would be more reliable.
