Outside Hanyang City, Zhang Zijin, who was sitting in a carriage, looked at the city gate not far away through the carriage window and couldn't help but frown slightly.
At this time, there were dozens of people queuing up at the city gate, waiting to enter the city. Most of them were villagers from nearby carrying firewood, fruits, vegetables and other items waiting to be sold in the city. At the end of the line, there were more than a dozen people wearing gray robes and shaved heads. The thieves were guarding the city gates and checking people entering the city one by one.
Immediately, a young man dressed as an entourage sitting in the front of the carriage muttered: "Is this preventing you from entering the city?" Also, these protector thieves were born as rogue bandits. Even if they proclaimed themselves emperors and established a government, they could not get rid of the rogue bandits' temperament. People who entered the city would inevitably be exploited. "
Zhang Zijin also sighed after hearing this: "Be careful, don't let those people hear you!"
Although the young attendant was still muttering softly, he no longer spoke loudly.
The team entering the city slowly moved forward. After a while, the carriage of Zhang Zijin and his party also approached the city gate, but the scene they saw was the same as expected.
Although these gray thieves will inspect people entering the city, they do not ask for money. They will just conduct inspections and then ask a few random questions.
But when it was Zhang Zijin's turn, one of the Gray Bandits asked: "Where did they come from? What are they going to do in the city?"
The entourage got off the carriage and immediately stepped forward and said: "Master Jun, my master came from Jiangling, Jingzhou. He came to Hanyang this time to visit friends."
But as soon as he said these words, the traitor stared at the two of them several times, and muttered at the same time: "Here from Jiangling?"
Two more bandit soldiers came over, and one of them, who seemed to be a small leader, said, "It's a mess everywhere. You came all the way from Jiangling to visit our friends in Hanyang City?"
"No matter what you are here for, come here first to ask questions and register."
After hearing this, the attendant hurriedly said: "Question? What are you asking?"
"My master is a civil servant, what qualifications do you have to ask my master!"
Seeing this, the bandit leader became even more vigilant. He put one hand on the handle of the knife at his waist, and at the same time his face was frozen: "Go over!"
After that, he turned to Zhang Zijin, who had been sitting silently on the carriage, and said: "Your fame is also the fame of Qian Ming. It has nothing to do with our Dachu. At special times, anyone from outside the city who wants to enter the city must be questioned." And register to prevent spies, hum, be obedient and avoid suffering!"
The attendant wanted to say something else, but fortunately, Zhang Zijin on the side had already got off the carriage and put his hand on his shoulder. At the same time, he said to the bandit leader who had half pulled out his sword: "Master, don't blame me. Children have no inhibitions about their words, so please forgive me if my words may offend."
"We will follow the arrangements and go there. Don't worry, we are not spies, we are just visiting friends!"
Zhang Zijin led his entourage to a small row of houses next to the city gate. After entering one of the houses, there were two thieves watching behind him, and in the room there was a man dressed as a scribe sitting behind a table in a robe. .
When the scribe saw the person coming, he immediately picked up his pen and dipped his head in ink. At the same time, he raised his head and asked, "Name? Place of origin? Age? Gender?"
Zhang Zijin said: "My surname is Zhang, Zijin, courtesy name is Wudu, I am from Jiangling, Jingzhou, I am thirty and six years old, and my gender is... male!"
Zhang Zijin's entourage also introduced himself, and after speaking, he muttered: "You asked about gender, could it be that we are still women!"
Zhang Zijin turned around and glared at his entourage: "If you keep talking nonsense, I will take care of you!"
The attendant immediately turned pale and did not dare to talk nonsense anymore.
After a moment of question and answer, Zhang Zijin left the address of his friends in Hanyang City, and then he was able to leave and enter the city.
After entering the city, Zhang Zijin sat on the carriage and found that Hanyang City was different from the previous times he came.
First of all, the street is much cleaner, there is no garbage and debris, and even the shops on both sides of the street look much cleaner.
He had remembered before that the shops on both sides of the street in this area would sell their goods directly at the door, making the originally spacious street extremely narrow.
But now, the shops on both sides of the street do not place goods at the door, making the whole street look more spacious.
Occasionally, groups of thieves wearing gray uniforms can be seen patrolling by.
Zhang Zijin watched as the carriage moved forward. After a while, the carriage arrived at the door of a third-entry courtyard in the city. His entourage immediately stepped forward to knock on the door.
A moment later, Zhang Zijin was sitting in the flower hall of the house, and opposite him sat a man about forty years old, dressed in a scribe's robe.
Just listen to this man say: "Brother Wudu has come from afar, I am sorry to welcome you from afar!"
Zhang Zijin said: "Brother Songquan is too polite, but Zhang came here rashly, what a bother!"
Fang Xubing said: "You and I have been classmates for many years, and we are in the same year, so why bother."
After the two chatted a lot, they gradually turned to business. Zhang Zijin said: "I heard from Brother Fang earlier that the Baoxiang Army is planning to select officials from among the scholars?"
Fang Xubing took a sip of tea, moistened his throat and said, "Yes, there was news earlier. The notices were posted three days ago. This time they made a big move. , I heard that a hundred officials will be selected at once."
As he said that, Fang Xubing added: "Brother Wudu, you should have heard of it. They already proclaimed themselves emperor and established an institution not long ago. Now they are in dire straits and there is a lot of shortage of personnel, so they have to conduct an official selection."
"And this time, the selection of officials is specifically for officials like us who have a good reputation and are dedicated to their careers!"
Having said this, Fang Xubing hesitated a little and then said: "Brother Wudu is dissatisfied, I have decided to accept their invitation and prepare to become an official!"
As he spoke, he showed a wry smile and said: "I was a high school student at the age of fifteen, and passed the imperial examination at the age of twenty-two. In the past twenty years, I went to Beijing to take the exam five times and failed every time. It is difficult to pass the imperial examination!"
After saying this, his face became slightly gloomy: "Someone on our side has the skills to govern the country and secure the people but has no use for it. To be honest, I am not willing to do it!"
"It is said that Han Chuang has studied hard for ten years, just for the sake of goods and the emperor's family!"
"Since Zhu Ming doesn't like the talent of someone on our side, then no wonder I am loyal to Luo Chu!"
"Brother Wudu, what do you think? Do you want to work for Da Chu with me? I have asked, and I will join you with my title of Juren. I will start at least at the sixth level and give priority to important positions in various ministries. Now, Da Chu is undergoing rapid expansion. Among them, there are many vacancies and few good talents. As long as we do well, we can reach the fourth or even third grade within three to five months."
"It's not impossible for him to become Prime Minister in Japan!"
Zhang Zijin was slightly stunned after hearing this. When he received a letter from Fang Xubing some time ago, he also guessed that Fang Xubing would do this, otherwise he would not have written to him specifically, and even hinted at persuading himself to be with him. He also joined the Baoxiang Army as an officer.
To be honest, he was a little moved, otherwise he wouldn't have set off directly to Hanyang City after receiving the letter.
He, Zhang Zijin, is in his thirties this year. He was not yet twenty when he won the exam. But for more than ten years, he has failed every time he went to Beijing to take the exam. After failing the last time, he had actually given up and wanted to go home to take care of things. Family affairs, training children.
But just like Fang Xubing said, he is not willing to give in!
He started enlightenment at the age of five and studied hard for more than 30 years. Why?
Just to one day pass the imperial examination and become an official, and gain glory and wealth.
But how difficult it is to pass the Jinshi exam!
Whether he is Zhang Zijin or Fang Xubing, he is just one of the countless people in the world who have failed.
At this time, he received a letter from Fang Xubing. He heard that after the Baoxiang Army went south to Hanyang, he had declared himself emperor and was preparing to recruit scholars to serve as officials in the court.
to be honest!
He was moved!
If the rural protection army was still just a bandit, he would definitely not have such an idea. It was better than bandits such as Gao Yingxiang, Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong, etc. Even if it seemed to be conquering the city, Zhang Zijin would not go there and become an official.
From the bottom of his heart, he despised such rogue bandits. They seemed to be prosperous now, but they would not be able to survive for long under the encirclement and suppression by the army.
But the Baoxiang Army is not an ordinary bandit.
In the past six months, the Baoxiang Army has conquered the entire Chubei region with overwhelming force. This is not only a victory, but the most important thing is that the Baoxiang Army can still defend Chubei.
This alone cannot be compared with Gao Yingxiang and other bandits.
In addition, there is another important point, that is, the Baoxiang Army seems to be from rogue bandits, but they are extremely disciplined.
When he was in his hometown in the countryside of Jiangling, Jingzhou Prefecture, he also saw the rural protection army.
Those thieves gave him the feeling that they were very domineering, especially the tax collectors, who were like a concentration camp of scum, which made people sick to see them.
But what has to be said is that these security thieves, whether they are their thieves or tax collectors, are very disciplined.
When the bandits captured their hometown area, they did not launch troops to plunder. Instead, they actively killed bandits and deserters to maintain public order. They also established town offices and village chiefs.
Helping the villagers organize the autumn harvest and organizing people to dig ditches.
All this was seen by Zhang Zijin.
There is no circle without rules. If you have rules and follow them, then you can build a real foundation.
In his opinion, with a strong army and good rules, the Hometown Protecting Army would be able to occupy a peaceful corner of northern Chu no matter how bad things happen in the future.
If planned properly, it is possible to occupy the entire Huguang and even several surrounding provinces such as Sichuan.
If coupled with good luck, there is a certain possibility of being able to decide on Kyushu in the future.
If he, Zhang Zijin, could join them, just as Fang Xubing said, it would be possible for him to hold a high position or even join the cabinet in the future.
However, Zhang Zijin also has his own worries.
The Chu Empire seems to have a bright future, but it is also surrounded by dangers. Can the Chu Empire, which only occupies the northern part of Chu, really be able to withstand the Ming court's counterattack?
Once this cannot be stopped, officials like them who surrendered will be completely doomed.
To surrender to Chu is equivalent to gambling with one's worth, one's life, or even the fate of the entire family head!
It's easy to become rich and prosperous.
If you lose, your family will be confiscated and your clan will be exterminated in a matter of minutes.
With such an important choice, Zhang Zijin had to be cautious!
