"I need all the information about Jiang Zhihong, including the details of the grudge between him and Prime Minister Lou."
Xu Chong found Ge Wanshan and said seriously.
"Um?"
Ge Wanshan frowned, "What do you want this for?"
"Let Jiang Zhihong regain his sense of life."
Xu Chong replied.
"Are you absolutely sure of this?"
Ge Wanshan pondered for a moment, then his expression became solemn, "Whether it is Jiang Zhihong or Prime Minister Lou, their information is only available to the General Guard, and the transfer must go through layers of approvals. It takes half a month to come and go, and with Jiang Zhihong
Zhihong's state can only last for more than half a month at most."
"Whether we are completely sure or not, we won't know until we see the dossier."
Xu Chong shook his head, "But this is the only way I can think of."
"The only way..."
Ge Wanshan started pacing with his hands behind his back.
In fact, in the past two days, he has been considering another way-dumping Jiang Zhihong for Duan Yuanming.
But in that case, not only would he not be able to get those contributions, but he would also have to reluctantly give up part of the benefits to Duan Yuanming... It is no different now than when he was first arrested. It is clear that there will definitely be a price to pay for shirking the blame.
It's like stealing a chicken but losing a lot of rice. How can you be willing to do so?
But at this moment, Xu Chong gave another uncertain choice.
Take a gamble?
If the bet is successful, not only will there be benefits, but you will also be able to show your face in front of the Prime Minister, which can be said to be both fame and fortune.
If the bet fails, he will lose both fame and fortune... Xu Chong will have to bear a lot of responsibilities, which is equivalent to owing himself a big favor. With Zhe Feng Shou's progress, it is very likely that he will join the commander-in-chief's sect in the future.
Hmm... If you put it this way, it seems that even if you lose the bet, you may not lose money?
Thinking of this, Ge Wanshan stamped his feet suddenly and looked at Xu Chong: "Okay, I will take a gamble with you!"
That's how things settled.
In the days that followed, Xu Chong took Kou Ruohai to the black prison every day, where they ate, drank, played chess, and chatted in front of Jiang Zhihong.
Anyway, they just harass Jiang Zhihong and try their best to make Jiang Zhihong familiar with him.
However, except for Jiang Zhihong who said a few words when he was first sent to the black prison, he never spoke again after that, completely treating the two of them as nothing.
Xu Chongneng clearly noticed that Jiang Zhihong's energy and energy were getting worse and worse. As Ge Wanshan said, he would not be able to hold on for long.
Fortunately, over in Jingli, the General Guard seemed to take this matter very seriously, and it only took ten days to send a large box full of files to Zhang Hua.
"These copied files have been processed. You can read them at will without worrying about anything."
Ge Wanshan ordered people to move the box into Xu Chong's room and said, "I have already given instructions. No one is allowed to disturb you."
"Thank you for your trust, sir."
Xu Chong cupped his fists and saluted, turned around and locked himself and the file in the room.
One day, two days, three days...
On the evening of the third day, Xu Chong called two government officials and gave instructions, without disturbing Ge Wanshan, and just went back to his room to sleep.
In the early morning of the fourth day, Xu Chong walked out of the room full of energy and entered the black prison again under the eyes of everyone.
This time he brought a stool and sat down in front of Jiang Zhihong.
Then start doing the usual routine.
"Jiang Zhihong, who is sixty-seven years old, is from Gunzhou and comes to Jifu."
"In the palace examination in the 14th year of Wenchang, he was selected by the late emperor as the number one scholar, and was awarded the title of Sixth Grade Compiler by the Hanlin Academy."
"In the same year, Lou Youzhi, a fellow countryman and classmate, was born as a Jinshi scholar and was sent to Yunzhou by the Ministry of Civil Affairs to serve as county magistrate, reaching the seventh rank."
"In the 17th year of Wenchang, you were able to stay in the Imperial Academy because you passed the examination and were qualified. You were promoted to the rank of Imperial Lecturer and were promoted to the sixth rank."
"In the same year, there was a flood in Yunzhou, and people died of hunger everywhere in the Eleventh Prefecture. Lou Youzhi was demoted to Dianshi."
"In the 20th year of Wenchang, you stayed in the library again and was promoted to a bachelor's degree, from the fifth rank."
"But Lou Youzhi was reinstated as county magistrate because of his meritorious service in supervising the farming."
"Twenty-three years of Wenchang..."
Having said this, Xu Chong smiled and said, "Starting from this year, your luck seems to be deteriorating. First, you failed to stay in the Imperial College and failed to be promoted to a bachelor's degree in the Hanlin Academy. Later, you were demoted to the Imperial Academy for violating the imperial edict.
Si Du Shi, the seventh rank."
"But your classmate is just the opposite. He used his position as county magistrate to capture the Taoist priest of Taiping Dao. Because of his meritorious service, he went directly to the imperial capital and was appointed as the head of the Household Department. He was promoted to the sixth rank."
"After that, the sky will rise even higher, and you will be trampled under my feet forever."
Having said this, Jiang Zhihong's empty eyes finally focused slightly.
"but."
Xu Chong struck while the iron was hot, "At that time, you two were still close friends. You were both officials in the capital. You would often drink tea and discuss politics together. Although you have different opinions, it is not comparable to ordinary friendship."
"It wasn't until the 42nd year of Wenchang that Lou Youzhi was promoted to the rank of Minister of the Household Affairs Bureau of the third rank, and you finally made it through and were promoted by the late emperor to the rank of Youqiandu Censor of the fourth rank."
"It was during this year that the best friends in the past turned against each other and became enemies who wanted to kill each other, and they have been until now."
"And the reason for your rebellion is actually just a disaster relief?"
Xu Chong's tone rose, as if he didn't understand.
"only?"
Jiang Zhihong finally spoke, his voice extremely hoarse and dry, "You said it so easily, do you know what he did during the disaster relief?"
"What did you do?"
Xu Chong continued to be puzzled, "There was a severe drought in Bingzhou. It was Lou Youzhi who contributed to disaster relief and was able to save half of the hundreds of people. Is this wrong?"
"Half! Half!!!"
Jiang Zhihong didn't know where he got the strength, and suddenly rushed from the corner to Xu Chong's eyes, roaring angrily: "If it wasn't for Lou Youzhi, how could he only survive half of them?!"
"oh?"
Xu Chong raised his eyebrows, "Why do you dare to say that?"
"Why should I?!"
Jiang Zhihong's bloodshot eyeballs seemed to be about to pop out, and he gritted his teeth and said: "How can I be the first to see the victims of the disaster who carried the Taizu's imperial edict and traveled thousands of miles to Beijing to complain! How dare the victims not even have time to call the news?
Gu, his head was taken off by the killer in the street!"
"So, what did this victim tell you?"
Xu Chong asked.
"What did you say? Hehe, hehehe..."
Jiang Zhihong shook his head and smiled miserably, as if he had lost all his strength, and staggered back, "What does it matter if I say something? The late emperor doesn't believe it, all the officials don't believe it, and no one believes it except me, so what's the use of telling you?"
"No, no, actually, you don't need to say it, I already know it, and..."
Xu Chong shook his head, "I don't care whether others believe it or not, but I believe it."
Jiang Zhihong froze, raised his head and looked at Xu Chong in disbelief: "What...what did you say? You said you believe it?"
Xu Chong was not surprised to know those things. After all, even his family background was well known, so it was not surprising to find out those things.
But he didn't expect that Xu Chong actually believed it!
"Lou Youzhi replaced the 1.6 million shi of corn allocated by the imperial court for disaster relief with 4.5 million shi of bran, and mixed nearly 1 million shi of sand into it."
Xu Chong said calmly, "This is your impeachment memorial, right?"
"Although I have not experienced that disaster relief, I think this is the fact."
As soon as these words came out, the faces of everyone listening in the corner on the ground changed wildly.
Ge Wanshan's heart almost jumped out of his throat.
Back then, when Lou Xiang was just a minister, it didn't matter if he talked about it, but now, it's already a huge taboo!
However, just when he was about to speak out to stop Xu Chong, Xu Chong's next words made him suddenly stop.
"even."
Xu Chong paused and suddenly changed the subject: "Not only do I believe this, but I also feel from the bottom of my heart that Prime Minister Lou is a rare capable minister in ancient times. It is not unreasonable for him to become the chief minister of the cabinet."
"What?!!"
Jiang Zhihong's face turned completely ugly, and the good impression he had just had on Xu Chongsheng was gone.
Snap!
Xu Chong clapped his hands twice.
The two government officials who had been waiting at the entrance looked at each other, suppressed their panic and jumped down.
One of them carried a charcoal stove, oil pan and other items on his back, and the other held a small swaddling bag.
When the two came to Xu Chong's back, they lit a fire and burned oil without saying anything.
Jiang Zhihong looked at it coldly, puzzled.
"I don't know what you think of the four words "Yi Zi Er Shi", but I guess you haven't seen it with your own eyes."
Xu Chong stood up and took the swaddling clothes, making a slight effort in his arms.
A loud 'baby' cry suddenly started.
Uaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah-
"What...what are you going to do?"
Jiang Zhihong's already pale face turned a little pale again.
"do what?"
Xu Chong glanced at Jiang Zhihong in surprise, "You don't eat anything edible. I suspect you like to eat those inedible things. Well, won't I punish you?"
"you!"
Jiang Zhihong's eyes showed fear.
Xu Chong ignored him and frowned at the yamen servant who was lighting the fire. "If the fire gets bigger, Mr. Jiang will be impatient with waiting."
"You're scaring me, aren't you?"
Jiang Zhihong composed himself and sneered: "Cooking and eating human flesh, whether it is a dead body or a living person, is a serious crime that will lead to the punishment of being torn apart in a car. I don't believe you dare!"
"Yes, this is indeed a serious crime, but..."
Xu Chong paused and looked around, "Who can know?"
At this time, the oil pan has begun to emit bursts of smoke, which is a sign that the temperature is sufficient.
"Well, it's time."
Xu Chong turned to face the frying pan and saw that he was untying the swaddling clothes.
"……don't want!!!"
Jiang Zhihong threw himself on the railing.
But it's too late.
--laugh!
This is the sound of cooking pot being cooked.
"No--!!!"
Jiang Zhihong waved his arms like crazy, trying to pull Xu Chong or the oil pan.
Unfortunately, Xu Chongka's distance was just right, and he couldn't reach even a corner of his clothes.
"Beast! Beast!!"
Jiang Zhihong finally collapsed and kept shouting.
"It seems that you also know that eating children is wrong."
Xu Chong turned sideways.
Jiang Zhihong's shouting stopped suddenly, and he was stunned.
The baby in the oil pan is not a real baby. It has scales and a tail. It is just an ordinary catfish.
"Thanks for your hard work."
Xu Chong patted a captain on the shoulder.
"It's just some little tricks, as long as they can help adults."
The captain bowed respectfully, then winked at his colleagues, raised the frying pan and left.
Jiang Zhihong had already reacted now.
The baby's cry just now was clearly pretended by the government servant. He was so distracted that he couldn't identify the source of the sound.
"...Why do you do this?"
Jiang Zhihong asked, his tone full of exhaustion.
"Don't worry, I'll ask you a few questions first."
Xu Chong sat down again, "In the 42nd year of Wenchang, do you know what the population of Bingzhou Province was and how much food it consumed in a month?"
"this……"
Jiang Zhihong choked.
"You don't know, you were born in Fucheng, your family is well-off, and you haven't experienced real hardship. How can you pay attention to these things? Let me tell you."
Xu Chong chuckled, "To stay alive, a person only needs fifteen kilograms of food a month."
"...Fifteen pounds?"
Jiang Zhihong was a little stunned and a little sad.
It turns out that just eating such a small amount is enough to survive...
"In the 42nd year of Wenchang, there were 19 prefectures and 201 counties in Bingzhou Province, with a total population of more than 16 million."
"Let's do the math. Five and a half million stones of bran mixed with sand and soil. If 16 million people eat the same food, it will only be enough for three months."
Xu Chong chuckled and said, "Well, don't you think it's a coincidence, because the disaster lasted for six months, and only half of the people in Bingzhou survived."
Jiang Zhihong was completely silent.
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Uh... I'm sorry I forgot to write the chapter name, I won't be able to add it later.
At the same time, the third day is reached, the author is awesome!