In the next few days, rumors spread all over the three counties in the east and west, and became more and more intense. They even spread to the east, Huaixi and Hebei, and even spread to Dongdu, Jin and Jiangdu.
But in fact, at this time, the gang leaders who were at the center of the vortex calmed down and quickly conducted substantive communication - Zhang and Li quickly conducted the most core exchange of interest distribution. Xu Dalang relented and Wang Wulang expressed his stance.
Shan Tonghai also received the letter in Hebei and responded quickly.
I don’t dare not to be calm, where is this?
If there really is a big merger, it will really turn from prosperity to decline and fend for itself, which will confirm the fact that a group of rabble has no future.
Therefore, regardless of deeds and intentions, putting aside some of the private nastiness and ugliness, just looking at the speed of compromise and peacemaking on the surface, it is still very fast. Three times five divided by two, it seems that this crisis has never broken out at all.
But on the other hand, this does not prevent rumors from breaking out and spreading. The reason is simple.
First of all, although the public rumors and the real crisis are somewhat misaligned, the former focuses on the so-called long-term confrontation between Zhang Xing and Li Shu, while the latter focuses on practical issues such as the private soldiers of powerful men in the East and the interception of finances and interference in judicial personnel. However, these two
It is not contradictory. The reason why Li Shu has been strong till now is that, firstly, he has his own team to stay in remote areas, and secondly, these powerful and powerful factions act as shields in the middle. And the powerful and powerful factions can be unscrupulous until now, and Li Shu is in the weak position.
Fang Shi's support was related to indulgence, and it was also related to Zhang Xing voluntarily giving up his long-term business in the east when he went north.
In other words, the rumors have a solid basis.
Secondly, rumors themselves have their own characteristics. They will reproduce themselves, meet the needs of specific groups of people, and interfere with each other, leaving you unable to figure out the real problem. At this time, practical handling and results are needed, and they should be made public to truly alleviate the rumors.
.
An unclear response or half-hearted measures will actually encourage rumors.
Therefore, as Xu Shiying continued to be under house arrest, his father was removed from his post and expelled from the gang, Xiahou Ningyuan's tribe and Liu Zhouchen's tribe crossed the river to Dongjun, and Xu Shiying's five thousand people and thousands of "jun soldiers" were moved to Hebei.
It's not that the atmosphere has eased and the rumors have stopped, but the rumors have intensified and the atmosphere has become more obviously tense.
The connection between the middle and upper levels and the turmoil among the middle and lower levels have become increasingly obvious.
"Who is after Xu Dalang? Could it be our family?"
In a manor in Weicheng County, which is only a few dozen miles away from Weinan, the leader of the gang, Zhai Kuan, the cousin of the Zhai brothers, became visibly agitated. "I don't understand. Xu Dalang has always been so powerful. What happened at the critical moment?"
He softened so quickly? The same goes for Xiong Bonan, isn’t he known as the top expert in the gang? Just to see his father-in-law and brother-in-law being detained? And Shan Tonghai, can’t he control Xiahou Ningyuan?!”
"According to King Xiongtian's temper, if he really knew about it, he would probably take care of Xu Dalang himself." The leader Zhai Qian sat aside, holding a small melon, and sighed slightly, his mood seemed not to be high. "Xia Hou Ningyuan.
If the troop deployment order really fails, it will be a big disaster."
"Then what should we do?" Zhai Kuanda became unhappy. "It must be us when Xu Dalang is dead. Are we just going to sit and wait?" Zhai Qian said nothing and just ate the melon.
"Let's see if the knife can be used." Huang Junhan said from the side. "Rumors are flying all over the sky now, and there are all kinds of things. I mean, if Zhang Longtou just wants to deal with Xu Dalang, and no one else will touch him, and just leaves Li Longtou alone, then naturally
It’s Zhang Longtou who is smart and ruthless; if Zhang Longtou just wants to kill rabbits and take down these private soldiers, it is indeed reasonable and reasonable. Who in power can tolerate this? Unless there is a leader, otherwise we will be bored.
It’s a loss.”
"How can you use a knife?" Zhai Qian finished eating the melon and said a little anxiously. "Didn't I ask? Xu Dalang always has a way out, let alone us? Don't say such things."
"Have you found out that there were three thousand soldiers at that time?" Zhai Kuan retorted. "If I were Zhang Longtou, Xu Dalang would have recruited private soldiers at the beginning, intercepted taxes, smuggled grain, and promised not to kill him.
He also kept all his soldiers. When he heard the number three thousand later, he would become angry and kill him with one sword! Now it is impossible to say that Xu Dalang is dead!"
"Nonsense. You are obviously waiting for a decision. Showing off the leader of Xu Dalang is just a rule." "Why do you trust him so much?"
"I don't believe him"
"You two, stop arguing." Huang Junhan interrupted helplessly. "There is really no need to argue about this matter. We have been in Dongjun for our whole lives and there is no other way out. This matter is nothing more than if he doesn't cut it down, we will accept it.
Cut it down and fight with all your strength. Is there any second way?"
"Can't you surrender to Dongdu?" Zhai Kuan asked angrily.
The pavilion suddenly became quiet.
"Brother Zhai, don't be joking." Huang Junhan reminded sternly. "Whether you say this or not is the key to whether or not you will use the knife." "Brother Zhai is going to surrender to Dongdu. I will kill him first, and then I will commit suicide and ask my aunt to apologize." Zhai
Qian suddenly spoke, which made the pavilion feel even cooler.
"Just kidding." Zhai Kuan regained his composure and was even a little frightened. "It's just a quick talk. Why is this?"
"Then let's put it like this. Let's keep to ourselves. Unless the knife cuts it off, we will accept it." Huang Junhan also quickly emphasized. "Don't talk about others."
With that said, he waved his hand and left in a hurry.
He seemed to be frightened by Zhai Qian's reaction and Zhai Kuan's stupidity.
After returning to his own manor, which was only about ten miles away, Huang Junhan breathed a sigh of relief. After thinking for a long time, he hesitated and asked someone to invite Mr. Cui, who had come to stay in the manor last month.
Come and meet.
A quarter of an hour later, the man with a high crown and wide sleeves walked to the front of the courtyard. Huang Junhan immediately got up and went to greet him personally.
There is no way, he is not a poor servant or clerk who asks for five buckets of rice to eat in troubled times, but a serious scholar with a good family background, who uses the place to observe the situation. He is not even lacking in connections. His name is Cui Xuanchen, Wucheng
A native of the county, fellow Dou Lide, the fourth son of Cui's small house in Qinghe.
I just didn't know that Zhang Dalongtou was obviously greatly expanding his clerical team at Jiang Ling. Even Cui Twenty-six and Twenty-seven were immediately accepted as confidential documents, and Cui Erlang became the actual chief of the clerical team. This
The Cui family's children, who are obviously of a higher rank, actually came to the Eastern Territory?
"This is why I came to the East." Cui Xuanchen couldn't help but sigh after listening to the narrative. "That Zhang Longtou is in Hebei. He always says that he wants to unite the world, but how can he do it?
?Everyone has selfish motives, even the Zhai brothers have different internal interests. How can they talk about the current messy gang, let alone the whole world?"
"Who says it's not the case?" Huang Junhan sighed quietly. "We all have competing interests and each puts his own interests first. How can we all be united?" Cui Xuanchen said nothing.
Huang Junhan seemed to have thought of something, and laughed to himself again: "But I really can't say this to Zhang Longtou, because no matter what, Zhang Longtou doesn't have more than his own."
"Not necessarily." Cui Xuanchen also laughed. "What you people are asking for is not the same thing as what he is asking for, and the benefits are different."
"That's true." Huang Junhan nodded, as if he was suddenly enlightened. "What great heroes and heroes seek is meritorious service. We are just ordinary people, asking for some money, food, land, and a house."
"Actually, there are quite a few thoughtful people in the gang." Cui Xuanchen continued. "Zhang Longtou, Li Longtou, and King Xiongtian all share a bed and a bowl of rice. They don't even have servants and wives, and they have nothing in terms of self-interest.
What can be said is that Bai Sanniang lived a clean life in Dengzhou, and Chief Wei looked like a puppet. Once she got rich, she wore brocade and silk clothes and changed into new clothes every day, but now she has gradually become dull.
But based on what you said today, I think the key to the problem, that is, the key to whether this matter will eventually cause trouble, may lie on the lower level."
"What do you mean? Which floor?" Huang Junhan was refreshed, but he was a little confused again.
"It's Xu Shiying, Shan Tonghai, Zhai Qian, Wang Shuyong, and Cheng Zhili who were directly pointed at the big leaders." Cui Xuanchen spoke calmly, much like his clan brother Cui Suchen. "Have you noticed, these people are of course being targeted.
They are targets of direct attack, but their attitude is really interesting.”
"That's right." Huang Junhan immediately came to his senses. "Xu Shiying is the person involved, but he is in charge of Zhang Longtou.
The night we crossed the river, we gave in and kept fighting all the way. Zhai Laoer was the one under the most pressure at the moment, and he always listened to his cousin and me, but today he said such things to his cousin and even drove me away.
Come out; Wang Wulang doesn’t know, but he probably sticks closer to the leader than these two people. But why?”
"Because the benefits they seek are different." Cui Xuanchen didn't make any excuses. "In the beginning, everyone was the same, which was private soldiers, population, land and housing, money and food. This is the typical profit pursued by powerful children. It has always been like this.
There is nothing to say about being born like this. However, suddenly a man came over and told these people that if you work with him, you can achieve great achievements and become a great hero. Of course, no one believed it at the beginning, but due to the situation, he had to do the opposite.
They just got together to live together. But in the past two or three years, that person led them to win many battles and conquered cities and territories. At the same time, he kept talking about big principles and rules. You just didn't believe it at all, and gradually you began to
They have been tempered to believe three or five points, and some people even believe more. At this time, the profits these people are chasing are not all those small rations of money and food."
"I understand." Huang Junhan came to his senses completely. "That's why this group of people can't be tough. Instead, Zhai Kuan has been staying here. The two brothers seek different benefits. Zhai Qian is just a mere county commander.
Officer, are you actually thinking about what you can achieve now? What, that person, is he so effective?"
"If you were to be the big boss, get that authority, and then lead the troops to fight with others, and win every battle, you would be successful!" Cui Xuanchen shook his head and laughed.
"Then Cui Silang wants me to introduce Li Longtou?" Huang Junhan sighed and asked out of curiosity. "Wouldn't it be better to go directly to Zhang Longtou?"
"Two reasons." Cui Xuanchen answered frankly. "First of all, I know that he can confuse people, so I have to stay away to avoid getting caught up in it. Secondly, I also have my own interests. I don't want to do things under Zhengzhou Fang Erlang.
"
"That's alright." Huang Junhan nodded and sat still. "I happen to be going to Jiyin City in the afternoon, so I'd like to make a suggestion for you."
Cui Xuanchen also nodded, but stood up and handed over his hands. Then, without waiting for the other party to return the greeting, he clasped his hands and walked out. When he walked out of the yard, he could still faintly hear this person's words:
"The way of Heaven is to make up for the deficiency when there is excess damage; the way of man is to make up for the deficiency when there is loss. I should follow the way of Heaven and follow the way of humanity."
"Pretending to be mysterious and mysterious." Huang Junhan waited until the other party's voice had completely faded away, and couldn't help but say something coldly, but without any of his previous enthusiasm. "You're smart, so what are you pretending to be? If you can be sent here to burn a cold stove, what else can you be?"
baby?"
After making sarcastic remarks, the man sat down for another half a day, and finally stood up. Regardless of the heat, he took the horse and hurried toward the south of Jiyin City with three or five companions.
However, as soon as Huang Junhan arrived at the junction of Jiyin County and Dongjun County, he ran into a group of soldiers and horses heading north. He was also flustered, but he had the courage to ask.
The other party heard the words, but he was also honest. It was actually Wang Wulang who took the initiative to clean up the private soldiers in Waihuang, Jiyang, and Kuangcheng. He gathered 800 people and were about to go to Baima, East County, to obey the order.
Huang Junhan realized in his heart that this was Wang Wulang's plan to gain his own "profit", and at the same time he acted simply, so it was hard to say anything.
Only after a change of heart, he thought of a plan, but he hesitated again - he was thinking whether he should use his identity as the leader and the opportunity of this army to enter Weicheng County to mislead and make the usually stupid and
Does Zhai Kuan, who trusts himself, think this is "using weapons"?
If Zhai Kuan thought that Wang Wulang was ordered to deal with him, wouldn't he have a chance?
However, this thought was just a flash, and he himself felt crazy. He followed Li Shu because he could not benefit from Zhang Longtou, and Li Longtou had promised some profits, but it would be unreasonable to take this risk for something he had not yet obtained.
Not worth it.
So, he watched the troops and horses continue to go north, and finally continued to go south. He rushed to Jiyin City that night and told Li Shu what he saw, heard and experienced one by one.
Including Cui Shilang's matter, he did not cover it up, and he was a good intermediary.
Compared with the previous few days, I don’t know why, Li Shu
Li Longtou obviously calmed down a lot. After listening to the introduction, he just sighed: "With great power, power comes with power. If no one is willing to step forward, then forget it. It's a pity that Shan Dalang is not here."
Huang Junhan didn't mean this, and naturally nodded repeatedly: "Now that I think about it, Shan Dalang's absence is probably a design. He said it was a rotating holiday, but only Wang Wulang, who had always been close to him, was allowed to come back, but he was captured as soon as he came up.
Xu Dalang."
"It makes sense." Li Shu nodded casually, feeling a little absent-minded. "That Cui Silang, what do you think of this person?"
"The talent is there, and he is smarter than me, but he is obviously a son of an aristocratic family." Huang Junhan blurted out. "Qinghe was occupied, so he asked the more famous Cui Erlang to follow Zhang Longtou and let this inferior
Cui Silang came to see you, Li Longtou. Who doesn’t know?”
"That's the truth." Li Shu was also a little helpless. "But you are still willing to come to me at this time. It's Cui Shizi, and what he said makes sense. I have to give you some face to trouble Huang Touchang and bring him here tomorrow."
Huang Junhan wanted to agree.
Unexpectedly, Li Shu suddenly waved his hand: "Forget it, I haven't been active for a long time, I'll take a night walk with you!"
Huang Junhan was stunned.
Li Shu knew that his behavior was out of line, so he laughed dryly and explained: "It's not that this person is so outstanding or earth-shattering, but I am encountering a problem right now. Everyone who can ask has asked, but I only listen to your words. This person
He is more or less a smart man, and he is from outside, so he has no extra position, so you might as well listen to what he has to say. You might as well listen to it!"
With that said, he was about to set off.
Huang Junhan suddenly realized that he wanted to take advantage of the excitement and return again, but he stood still and asked first: "What kind of difficult thing did the dragon head encounter?"
Li Shu was stunned for a moment and knew that he could not escape today, so he simply responded frankly: "Zhang Xing wants to promise me that the military and political commander-in-chief of the three eastern counties in the west will open his palace and lead the Kinki strategy. I am excited, but also worried that it is a delaying strategy, and I am still a little unwilling.
"
"What's so unwilling about this?" Huang Junhan was puzzled. "The three counties where the government is located are in Kinki." Li Shu knew that he couldn't explain to the other party, but he just smiled.
Huang Junhan thought of Cui Silang's words during the day, and sneered in his heart, but felt a little inexplicably flustered and embarrassed, so he nodded, turned around and prepared his horse.
At the second watch, he returned to his manor in Weicheng County.
At this time, Zhang Xing also saw a young man in Wang Shuyong's manor between Waihuang and Jiyang: "Your name is Ma Wei?"
"yes."
The young man said he was a young man, but in fact he was about the same age as Zhang Xing and Wang Shuyong. However, he was obviously careful in his speech, and his clothes were simple, making him look a little shabby under the light and smelling of alcohol.
In fact, on the stone table under the grape trellis where Zhang Xing was sitting, there was a half-drunk jar of wine and a few bunches of unripe grapes.
"Wang Wulang went to see me before, and today he took the initiative to send private soldiers. Is this all your attention?" Zhang Xing touched the wine jar, released the cold energy from his body, and continued to ask. "Is there any explanation for this?"
Xie Minghe beside him was also looking at him.
"What can be said about this?" The young man said a little anxiously. "Zhang Longtou has obvious kindness and power, and Chief Wang is loyal and reliable. There will never be any problems. However, at the beginning, I couldn't help but worry that Zhang Longtou would be angry and kill someone by mistake. Leader Xu, so he asked him to persuade him early. Later, rumors spread and people didn't know where the leader's bottom line was, so that people were panicked. At this time, Leader Wang was asked to hand over his private soldiers and clear a way to ask for help. It’s just a matter of propriety.”
"The word "measurement" sounds easy to say, but in fact it is extremely difficult." Zhang Xing nodded, as if he recognized the other party's judgment of proportionality in handing over private soldiers. "Very good."
"But I still wasn't careful and alert enough. If I were careful, I should have reminded Leader Wang not to let the private soldiers leave Weicheng County, but to make a detour from Xu Dalang's land to the west, so as not to cause misunderstandings or be tricked by malicious people. It's a misunderstanding." Ma Wei still looked a little uneasy. "And if he was smart, he should have asked Chief Wang to take his private soldiers to Jiyin to pay the money, and let Fang Liu deal with it later."
Xie Minghe raised his eyebrows,
He instantly became energetic and looked at this person with a little more energy.
Zhang Xing, on the other hand, was stunned for a moment, nodded, but couldn't help but smile again: "It's a coincidence, some things are unnecessary, especially since you got the idea from Wang Wulang, so it's good to have a good sense of proportion. It's superfluous." The measures may look wonderful, but in fact they are superfluous.”
"Indeed." Ma Wei thought for a while and nodded. The grape rack was quiet for a while.
Immediately, Zhang Xing came to ask seriously: "Are you from Chiping?" "Yes."
"Where did you study?" "Study in the Fang clan."
"Are you related to the Fang family?"
"No, I paid a lot of money to get admission." "Your family is rich?"
"I come from a middle-class family. After my parents died, I sold all my money in exchange for school opportunities and drinks. For this reason, people in my hometown call me a poor boy."
"Drink less." "."
"Why don't you go to Jiangling instead to find Wang Wulang?"
"Okay, let me ask you something again." Zhang Xing saw that the other party was timid on the surface but actually bold, so he stopped trying. "I am now ready to promise Li Shu the identity of the military and political commander-in-chief of the three counties in exchange for a peaceful settlement of the gang. At the same time, I want him to support me in becoming the sole leader of the gang. Do you think it can be done?"
Wang Shuyong was extremely surprised, but immediately felt happy.
"I think it's a bit shameful for Long Tou to do this." Ma Wei thought thoughtfully. "And it's not legal." "How should I say?"
"The leader should gather all the leaders in the gang. According to the gang rules from the beginning, based on the consent of two-thirds of the leaders, he should openly become the leader without relying on the support of any single person. After becoming the leader, he should start from the top. What are the commander-in-chiefs of the three counties under the title? And there are also a few more commanders-in-chief, but I think Longtou has already prepared it, so I won’t say anything." Ma Wei blurted out. "As for the inability to say anything, I just want to say that this thing is unnecessary. Talking to Li Shu himself, Li Shu actually has some huge ambitions. He can't help but feel that he has suffered a loss, and he may not be grateful in his heart. He should directly tell the news to all the leaders who stayed behind in the Eastern Territory, especially those who stayed behind. Those who are close to Li Shu asked them to put pressure on Li Shu on behalf of the leader. As for resolving the civil war disputes in the gang, it is even more nonsense. The gang is peaceful and united, and there is no dispute. "
Zhang Xing was silent for a moment, then suddenly turned to look at Wang Shuyong, and then complained on the spot: "When Wei Gong was in this village, you made him wear a pair of broken shoes with open toes, but now when the horses are gathered in this village, you make him
Why don’t you bring ice when you drink in the summer?”
Wang Shuyong was at a loss for a moment, and Xie Minghe twisted his beard and turned around to laugh.
"This is the reason why I came to Wang Wulang instead of Jiangling." Ma Wei hurriedly said. "Including Wei Gong's choice to come to Wang Wulang's village, it is probably because Wang Wulang's mind is simple and he will not deliberately
He recruits people, but he doesn’t hate them for anything. He can come and leave whenever he wants, and there’s always a jar of wine available.”
Zhang Xing looked Wang Shuyong up and down, nodded with conviction, and looked at the young man in front of him again: "Come and sit down! It doesn't matter whether you are working on a curve or meeting someone in the rivers and lakes. If you come here, I can help you at any time."
Have a drink."
"So that the leader knows that wine should be drunk hot, no matter in winter or summer." Ma Wei corrected seriously. "You will die quickly if you drink cold wine, and you will really become a poor boy."
PS: Everyone eat and drink well during the Chinese New Year.
