At the gate of the county government office, two rows of sergeants stood tall, with their swords unsheathed and spears in their hands.
For those who didn’t know, they thought the Jurong County Government Office had been taken over by guards sergeants from somewhere.
Zhang Pei saw this situation from a distance and stopped Gu Zhengchen worriedly: "Looking at this posture, Marquis Jinghai may be coming with bad intentions. Sir, ask Zhao Hailou to bring the sergeants here to prevent any unexpected events."
Gu Zhengchen glared at Zhang Pei and said sternly: "Although Wu Zhen is a marquis, he does not dare to act arrogantly. Let Zhao Hailou lead people, but it will appear that we are afraid of him. Within the county government, I The Lord. How can a host be intimidated by guests?"
Horse hooves galloped to the vicinity of the county government office.
A sergeant stepped forward to stop Gu Zhengchen and Zhang Pei, and shouted sternly: "The Marquis is here, no one is allowed to ride the horse."
Gu Zhengchen reined in his horse, raised his hand and swung the whip in his hand.
Snapped!
The whip struck the sergeant's armor and grazed his face.
The sergeants crowded around.
Gu Zhengchen pointed to the beaten sergeant and shouted: "How can I allow the sergeants to besiege me in this important county area? Let me disperse!"
The sergeant looked at the strong Gu Zhengchen and was a little at a loss.
"What a man from Quanzhou County!"
A middle-aged man with a long face clapped his hands and walked out of the gate of the county government office. His thick eyebrows flew to his ears, the bridge of his nose was especially thick, and his chin was covered with beard.
Gu Zhengchen looked at him and suddenly felt that there was an evil aura on his body. The sharp aura made people palpitate. He turned over and dismounted, and stepped forward with fists clasped: "What a Marquis Jinghai!"
Wu Zhen burst into laughter and looked around: "Why do you conclude that I am Marquis Jinghai, why can't you say that I am a general in the retinue of Marquis Jinghai?"
Gu Zhengchen saw that Wu Zhen didn't seem to be looking for trouble, so he relaxed a little: "Jinghaihou has the courage to calm the sea and the courage to conquer the storm. Such momentum is rare for ordinary generals. What's more, after Jinghaihou showed up, these sergeants were all in awe. Continuously, the military's morale is so clear, if Marquis Jinghai hadn't come personally, who would still have such prestige in the army?"
Wu Zhen patted his chest and threw his head back and laughed heartily.
Gu Zhengchen is not used to it. You just smile, why do you have to face the sky and point your nostrils at me?
Wu Zhen smiled and looked at Gu Zhengchen with squinted eyes: "This is not the first time that Wu has led the army, but it is the first time that a superior has intervened in the matter of transferring people before the battle is over. Because you were transferred to Jiangyin, the superior reprimanded Wu severely, and said that you are a soldier of the emperor, a good friend of the prince, and you cannot do anything without the emperor's order. When I saw you today, you turned out to be a talented person, and Wu came here to apologize. "
Gu Zhengchen did not expect that Lao Zhu would do such a thing for himself, so he quickly avoided Wu Zhen, who was holding his fists and tilting his head: "I am just an ordinary magistrate of the county. By chance, I was favored by His Majesty and the Crown Prince. They took pity on me for being weak and incompetent. I was afraid that I would perish in the rivers and seas, so I issued the document, but I caused trouble to Marquis Jinghai."
The dignified Marquis apologized, but Gu Zhengchen did not dare to accept it.
Wu Zhen put down his hand and said frankly: "It is indeed selfish for us to transfer you to Jiangyin. A little scholar, calm and uncomplicated, became a county boy of the Ming Dynasty overnight. We are not convinced and want to Let's take this to see what you are capable of. If you can manage Jiangyin Guards in an orderly manner, we will recognize that you have the ability to control an army and reluctantly recognize your title. But who would have thought? Zhou Huan transferred you without my orders. Went to Nansha Island..."
Gu Zhengchen felt bitter.
Because of this ridiculous man from Quanzhou County, I am really unlucky.
To the civil servants, this county man is a joke. He is a man who kills the dead and kills the living. It is not a joke.
To the military attache, this county boy is a real title. A title, regardless of whether it is given to a dead person or a living person, this is a real title. Who doesn't want it? Many men who have performed military exploits, carried heads in their hands, and fought bloody battles have not been knighted. How can he, a weak and weak county magistrate, be knighted?
Of course there are people who are unconvinced.
Wu Zhen was really unconvinced at first and wanted to become a marquis himself. He had to fight all his life and fight all the way. He only succeeded by stepping on the heads of Zhang Shicheng, Chen Youliang, Chen Youding, Fang Guozhen, Yuan Ting and others.
Gu Zhengchen?
Who did he kill, whom did he bring to death, and what military merit did he get?
When Wu Zhen inquired about it, he said, "Oh, no one knows. It is said that the emperor and the prince are quite fond of him."
Do you favor a civil servant who has no merit?
Isn't that just Gu Zhengchen trying to take advantage of others?
Needless to say, he must be a flattering, incompetent, and incompetent minister.
Based on this judgment, Wu Zhen transferred Gu Zhengchen to Jiangyin Guard, which was considered a test. Unexpectedly, Gu Zhengchen not only changed the atmosphere of Jiangyin Guards in a short period of time, but also annihilated more than 400 pirates near Nansha Island with 300 men and small boats!
Wu Zhen came this time not only to apologize for his narrow speculations and pressure from the emperor, but also to come sincerely.
Just imagine, if Gu Zhengchen hadn't discovered this group of pirates, they would probably have appeared near Jinling in a big way. By then, if the pirates hit Jinling City, even if they were wiped out instantly, they would put the navy to shame and the court. His face was disgraced and the emperor was furious!
"I came here and brought you a gift."
Wu Zhen said and walked towards the county government office.
Gu Zhengchen followed in, and when he reached the lobby, he saw a pile of thorns. He was wondering why someone would give such a thing as a gift. When he walked to the front and took a look, oh, no, this was not a pile of thorns, but a person carrying it. With a pile of thorns...
Asking for forgiveness?
A word came out of Gu Zhengchen's head, he looked at the man carrying the thorns, and then looked at Wu Zhen.
Wu Zhen said with a sullen face: "This is Jiangyin Wei Zhenfu Zhou Huan. He received a letter from home and learned that you whipped his son. Even after knowing that a large number of pirates were heading north to the Yangtze River, he still transferred you to Nansha. I want to use the hands of pirates to get rid of you and vent my anger on my son. Now, I will hand him over to you. Whether to kill or behead him is up to you!"
Zhou Huan's face was very pale, and his heart was even more miserable.
Because he did not report the information and concealed the news of the pirates heading north, because he transferred Gu Zhengchen to Nansha Island, the emperor turned his anger on his own family. His son Zhou Lin was temporarily led by the Longxiang Guard commander Wang Hu of Jiangyin Guard. Beheaded.
If it weren't for the fact that he still had some military merit, Wu Zhen would probably take action and carry his head to Jinling.
Gu Zhengchen looked at Wu Zhen, raised his brows slightly, and said: "Whatever Marquis Jinghai said, as His Majesty's ministers, I have no right to kill him. Your Majesty will reward you for your merits, and punish you for your mistakes. Reply The emperor decides on life and death, and we dare not overstep it."
Wu Zhen stared.
What a wonderful Gu Zhengchen, he is not influenced by hatred, he is actually watertight!
Gu Zhengchen knew very well that the reason why Wu Zhen brought Zhou Huan here was not to stage some drama of asking for forgiveness, nor to get Gu Zhengchen to forgive, but to save Zhou Huan's life!
As long as he opens his mouth and forgives Zhou Huan, Wu Zhen can use this to persuade Zhu Yuanzhang to give him a way to live because of Zhou Huan's merits, resolved grudges, and the death of his son.
Gu Zhengchen didn't want to open his mouth.
People like Zhou Huan may have merit, but if they can raise a son like Zhou Lin who dares to bully a military wife during the day, he must be unclean! Of course, Zhou Lin's fault was not enough to kill Zhou Huan, but Zhou Huan really shouldn't have concealed the information about the pirates heading north. Such crucial information became a tool for him to kill himself!
Gu Zhengchen would never protect someone who wanted his own life.
Whether Lao Zhu was willing to kill or spare, Gu Zhengchen could not intervene, but it was impossible for him to forgive him. Don't talk about carrying a thorn to plead guilty. Even if you are carrying a knife to plead guilty, don't even think about opening your mouth.
Zhou Huan knew that his life was likely to depend on Gu Zhengchen's attitude, so he quickly begged: "It's me who is selfish and confused, everything is my fault. As long as the man from Quanzhou County forgives Zhou, he will be rewarded in the future!" "
Seeing that Zhou Huan had a good attitude in admitting his mistake, Wu Zhen looked to Gu Zhengchen to help him say good things: "He is just a temporary obsessed man, and he is also a well-known man. There are many pirates who have fallen into his hands."
Gu Zhengchen frowned and had to give Wu Zhen some face. He stepped forward to help Zhou Huan up: "Zhou Zhenfu, there is no enmity between you and me. There is no need for this."
Zhou Huan thought the matter was settled and quickly thanked him.
Only Wu Zhen frowned slightly, sighed secretly, and said nothing.
"Stand back."
Wu Zhen waved.
Everyone retreated, and only Wu Zhen and Gu Zhengchen were left in the lobby.
Wu Zhen sat on the magistrate's chair as if there was no one around, took a document from his arms, put it on the desk, stretched out his hand and pushed it to Gu Zhengchen: "You don't really think that I came to Jurong to help Zhou Huan survive. Road, right?"
Gu Zhengchen smiled calmly: "Whether it is true or not, it has nothing to do with me as a mere magistrate. Marquis Jinghai, Your Majesty has his own discretion in doing things, and it is not for me and other ministers to control it."
Wu Zhen nodded solemnly: "You are a scholar and very smart. Take a look at this document."
Gu Zhengchen picked up the document, glanced at it twice, and then looked at Wu Zhen: "So, His Majesty asked you to come here in a different way."
Wu Zhen nodded.
Gu Zhengchen lowered his head and looked at the document. This was written by Zhu Yuanzhang to Wu Zhen. The content was his proposal to sail to the West. Lao Zhu asked Wu Zhen to come to Jurong to ask him about the specific method on his way back.
This surprised Gu Zhengchen, but Lao Zhu could not hold his breath. How long had Mu Ying been back before he sent someone to ask questions?
However, choosing Wu Zhen is indeed an excellent choice.
Marquis Jinghai is also the number one person in the Ming Dynasty Navy at the moment. If this matter is to be accomplished, this person cannot be bypassed.
Wu Zhen knocked on the table and his face became serious: "I have to say that your idea is very shocking. However, you have to think about it a little bit. The sea is not calm now. You want to go to the South and West to get the magic." Rare treasures are not easy to come by. If you have any plans, just tell me."
Gu Zhengchen handed the document back to Wu Zhen, turned around, pulled up a chair, and sat down: "Before discussing the strategy, Gu boldly asked Marquis Jinghai, do you think there should be Ming ships in the depths of the sea?" The team travels east and west and travels north and south?"
