Zhang Sheng was devastated, and holding a nine-section staff, he came to Gongsun Xun like a zombie... In fact, yesterday, when Zhang Sheng arrived at Zhang Jiao, he told everything in order to explain the matter clearly. At that time, he already knew what happened that day.
The "Letter of Zhang Bao" held by Gongsun Xun in the temple in Xiangguo County was found to be fake, and because of this, he was temporarily freed from the knot in his heart, and became more proactive because of his guilt for the great virtuous teacher.
But now, it can only be said that all the previous thoughts of the leader of the Zhao Kingdom's Taiping Road are like a joke.
And under the ups and downs, the more Zhang Sheng felt guilty about the Zhang brothers yesterday, and the more he felt that the clouds were clearing, the more resentful and frustrated he felt today! Resentment, naturally, resentment that the great virtuous master brother was so unkind and unjust, putting himself and all the Zhao brothers at risk.
The Taoist Taoist of Taiping surrendered; in frustration, he lamented that as a small person, he was like withered grass in the wind in the transactions of big figures such as Liu Yan, Zhang Jiao, and Gongsun Xun, without any self-control.
But even so, Zhang Sheng was not willing to give up the last glimmer of hope... not for himself, but for the grassroots Taiping Taoists under him who believed in the "Taiping Sutra" and ran around the countryside wholeheartedly to bring peace.
"Your Majesty!" Zhang Sheng threw down the nine-section staff in his hand and stiffly kowtowed to the other party. He was also very straightforward. "Uncle Fang was assassinated, and he wanted to answer the Taoist Taoist priest of Zhao State. As the leader, he himself
I know there is no luck, but many Taoists under my command are innocent..."
"Could it be that I have wronged you all?" Lou Gui on the side was quite speechless when he heard this. "Aren't you Taiping Dao the ones who assassinated Uncle Fang? Aren't you a registered disciple of your great virtuous master? Aren't your subordinates Taiping?
Taoist? In the final analysis, if you feel that you are unwilling to die, that’s all. As for innocence... how can you be innocent?"
Faced with Lou Zibo's repeated questioning, the tall and thin Zhang Sheng pursed his lips and was speechless for a moment. He just knelt there because he knew that if he didn't answer these questions well, he might not be able to save his subordinates.
Of course, Gongsun Xun had no intention of urging him. Wu Wuhou, who was sitting on the horse, was just like Guan Yu next to him, squinting his eyes to see the river embankment construction site in the distance that had become busy because of the morning meal.
"Reply to Lou Gui." After a long time, Zhang Sheng turned sideways and kowtowed to Lou Gui, and then he gritted his teeth and explained. "The rebellious people who assassinated Uncle Fang were the Julu Zhang brothers, and we are no better than those on Taiping Road.
They are just poor people who were deceived and deceived by them based on the meaning of the "Taiping Jing"... Please also learn from it together with the king!"
"You can say this, you are really a bit awakened." Gongsun Xun, who was sitting on the horse, withdrew his gaze from a distance, and then stared at this person again. "But I still want to ask you...that corner
Why are they deceiving you? What do they want to do with you?"
"What else can be done?" Zhang Sheng managed to raise his head and said through gritted teeth to Gongsun Xun. "Didn't the Lord ask me to defend this matter that day? This great virtuous teacher of my family worked hard and contacted all parties.
It is nothing more than a conspiracy to usurp the throne, to replace Cangtian with Huang Tian, and to replace the Liu family with the Zhang family!"
"That's good." Gongsun Xun nodded slightly, but asked again. "Then let me ask you again, are all of your Taiping Dao really innocent people? Are they really all coaxed into it by your great virtuous master?
"
"No!" Zhang Sheng responded without hesitation. "The kings and princes also had experience in this matter. In addition to people like me who are used to preach, the other leaders in Taiping Dao are mostly powerful people from various places. They
Either they have been dissatisfied with the Han Dynasty for a long time because they could not enter the officialdom, or they are simply ambitious people... These people are one with the great sages and teachers. Poor people like us who believe in the "Taiping Jing" are just...
…”
"It's just what?" Gongsun Xun continued to persuade.
"Rebellion always requires soldiers to charge forward." Zhang Sheng lost his composure and smiled bitterly. "We think we are educating the people, curing diseases and saving people, and bringing peace to the world. In fact, we are just plotting great things for the great sage and mentor.
Gathering people is like accomplices... I understand what you mean, I really deserve to die!"
Guan Yu, who had seemed unresponsive all this time, finally opened his eyes and turned to look at the lower reaches of the Gelu River... Zhang Liang was walking along the river just now.
"Actually, if I can get to the previous step, I won't kill your subordinate Taoists." Gongsun Xun narrowed his eyes at this person and said. "When it comes to the current step, I won't even kill you... and you too
You know, the Taiping Dao is thirty-six square meters in size and spreads all over the world. If it cannot be controlled, it will inevitably cause chaos in the world. It is more appropriate to keep you in charge of the Taiping Dao affairs in Zhao State than to kill you."
Zhang Sheng had already raised his head with red eyes. When he heard this, he leaned down and bowed again without hesitation: "I already understand what you mean! But as long as I am here, I will never let Zhao Guo
There is chaos on Taiping Road. Even if things really go wrong, I will definitely repay you! But...it's just that if you don't kill me now, why should you explain it to Uncle Fang? And if this matter happens,
If I can’t explain anything, how could Julu not have doubts about me?”
"No problem!" Lou Zibo, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly interrupted. "Do you recognize Taoist Wang Xianwang?"
"That ugly Taoist who was born in the Wang family in Taiyuan?" Zhang Sheng's heart moved slightly. "This generation's scriptures are not outstanding, but because he comes from a famous family, Julu looks at him particularly highly. He is also ranked among the great sages and good teachers in the religion.
There are people who are close to him. But I heard recently that he went to Handan to be a guest of the Prime Minister."
"Let's just say he begged for mercy." Lou Zibo said indifferently. "We will naturally ask Mr. Wang to cooperate. As for how to explain to Uncle Fang, you must not forget that this leader of Taiping Road in Zhao Kingdom
You are not the only one..."
"That's right." Gongsun Xun also spoke expressionlessly again. "Yun Chang."
"Yes." Guan Yu replied proudly.
"Your case has not been settled, so it is difficult to make an appointment." Gongsun Xun said calmly. "But I don't have anyone around me at this time, so I want to borrow your strength!"
"Please give me your orders."
"During the Taiping Dao assassination, you also heard a lot of inside stories, and there are some things that I haven't had time to tell you yet... However, the man I just mentioned, Ma Fat, although he is older and is called Ma Husband by everyone on the left and right, is a gelding.
The family of the eunuch's son is a local Taiping Taoist who is associated with powerful and wealthy people, so he cannot be considered innocent."
"How can the disciples of the rebellious people and the family members of the eunuchs be innocent? What do you want from me?"
"Without him, now please ask Yunchang to go to the other side of the river and find Dong Zhao, the county magistrate of Xiangguo, and Zhang Yan, the county lieutenant, in my name, and then ask them to send people to accompany you to hunt down the fat horse husband, and the people who are attached to him.
His Taiping Taoists, powerful and wealthy people who have always been close to Taiping Taoism, also picked a few unscrupulous people to kill together! The momentum must be sufficient!"
"Here!"
"After killing the person, I pickled the head, and asked Yun Chang to publicly display the fat head of Ma Fei along the way from Xiangguo to Yecheng. I also publicly told everyone that the person who assassinated Uncle Fang the day before yesterday was
This Taiping Road horse is fat!"
"Here!"
"There is also Zibo," Gongsun Xunfu ordered again. "When Yunchang comes back from killing the people, you will immediately send people to Handan and ask Ziheng to draft a document to question Zhang Jiao in the name of the country...
Zhang Jiao donated a thousand pieces of gold to Zhongzhou as a fine for his failure to discipline Taiping Dao."
"Understood!" Lou Gui also praised him with great enthusiasm. "Do you have any other instructions?"
"No more for now!" Gongsun Xun said, standing up suddenly.
"That's right." Seeing Gongsun Xun intending to go to the river embankment after giving instructions, Lou Gui suddenly remembered something. "Although the prince has recovered from his illness, he might as well continue to live here. There is no need to go to the river embankment..."
"Since I have recovered from my illness, why do I still want to live here and disturb others?" Gongsun Xun said disapprovingly, and then walked down the slope without stopping. "Besides, the river embankment will be completed. This is a century-old achievement.
How could I end up ending just because of an assassination or a cold weather?"
"That's not what I meant," Lou Gui quickly explained. "To be honest with you, I made the decision privately before and went to Handan to ask my mistress to send someone to take care of you. The envoy sent a letter overnight, saying that my mistress has sent Mrs. Qin here.
, I’m afraid we’ll arrive tonight, and there might be some disharmony on the river embankment…”
"If I don't go back to Handan, let Luo Fu go back directly." Gongsun Xun didn't look sideways, and he had already reached the foot of the slope with his hands behind his hands. "Zhang Sheng, the words he promised before to share half of the new fields with the poor people of Zhao still count now.
You take care of yourself!"
Everyone was speechless for a moment. Lou Gui paused for a moment. Naturally, he sent someone to greet him and sent him back to Qin Luofu. Then he immediately chased after him. Guan Yu also wanted to kill someone and pickle his head, so he followed him with his head held high from the beginning.
Gongsun Xun went down the hillside.
Only Zhang Sheng, who was betrayed first and now came back to life, felt his whole body soften and kept lying on the ground. However, after waiting for a while, he still managed to straighten his body and stood holding his nine-section staff tightly.
Get up!
No matter what, the Taoists under his command survived, and he also survived. The Taiping Dao believers in Zhao still respected him, and he finally had some reasons to straighten up.
At the end of the year, the weather was actually getting warmer, and the Gelu River was showing signs of thawing, so Guan Yunchang, who had just changed his character, crossed the river on the floating bridge and headed north. He wanted to kill people in return for Gongsun Xun's kindness.
Simplicity and trustworthiness.
But after Guan Yu's figure disappeared on the north bank, Lou Gui on the river embankment couldn't help but said: "Why did the prince deal with Zhang Sheng like this?"
"Why can't I deal with it this way?" Gongsun Xun retracted his gaze and immediately turned around and asked.
"It's not impossible," Lou Gui lowered his voice and said seriously. "It's just that the night before yesterday, didn't Junhou say that he had already accepted Fang Bo's honest invitation to kill with a knife, and was ready to strike with all his strength to destroy Taipingdao! In this case, you
Why are you still thinking so much about Zhang Sheng? If we kill him together, won’t the Zhao country be safe? And doing so will also make Taiping Dao relax its vigilance."
"I'll speak frankly." Gongsun Xun looked at the people on the embankment who were actively avoiding him, but he still did not hide the intention of his confidant. "Today Zhang Liang's actions and the attitude he expressed on behalf of the great sage and good teacher, in general,
Makes me feel something is wrong..."
Lou Gui was slightly startled.
"It's too rough." Gongsun Xun said simply. "I always feel that Taipingdao's handling method is too rough! Moreover, this behavior of abandoning subordinates at will is too utilitarian. Aren't the Zhang brothers afraid of losing their jobs?
To win people’s hearts?”
Lou Gui thought for a moment and then realized: "Does the Lord think that Zhang Jiao has other plans? Or maybe he thinks that this great virtuous teacher is just like us, delaying the attack, and then secretly intends to take action?"
"Isn't that right?"
"I think the king thinks highly of them." Lou Zibo shook his head repeatedly. "Since the rebellion failed that day, everything the Zhang brothers did was to complete the rebellion, and it was nothing more than deficiencies back then. Now,
I just added something here... colluding with the powerful is for talents, weapons, money and food; debating the scriptures with the surrounding scholars is for the sake of righteousness; spreading the doctrine widely is for the sake of soldiers. Isn't this a utilitarian act? Besides, let's talk about it.
Well, Zhao Guo and Julu are so close, and we are keeping an eye on the Zhang brothers, what else can we do on Taiping Road?"
"Maybe." Gongsun Xun sighed. "But it's better to be careful. Moreover, even if Zhang Jiao's side just overestimates, Liu Yan's side may not necessarily be trustworthy, right?"
"How do you say this?" Lou Gui then became serious.
"What can you say?" Gongsun Xun said with a sneer. "I just thought of this on the slope... Liu Junlang is the governor of Jizhou and an important minister of the clan. There are a lot of Jianghan family members behind him to rely on. So what if he wants to borrow money?
Taking advantage of his position and connections in Luozhong, how about he trap me and Zhang Jiao together? If you use a little trick, this clearly marked price of killing someone with a borrowed knife might turn into a snipe-clam situation where the fisherman gets the better of it, right?"
"For example?" Lou Gui was confused for a moment. "This uncle promised to give you a large county first. Since we get the reward first, how can we..."
"The gains and losses in this matter are not just the reward." Gongsun Xun's face became more and more sarcastic. "So what if he got a big county governor? What if he gave me a big county governor, but he didn't bypass those things as promised.
The chamberlain determined the exact guilt of Taiping Dao... Then if things go wrong in the end and Zhang Jiao is 'forced to rebel' by me, a ruthless person who is good at killing innocent people, wouldn't the emperor want to kill me to thank the world?!"
"Indeed." Lou Zibo was horrified: "In fact, in the final analysis, Taiping Dao is very powerful. If it is not handled well, there will be trouble, and the emperor will definitely not be happy. But Uncle Fang is a slippery man, and he does everything for his own benefit.
How can you really be willing to take on such a scandalous relationship if it's just for revenge?" However, at this point, Lou Gui suddenly shook his head, as if he couldn't make up his mind. "But it seems hard to say, after all, Taiping Road
What I did the day before yesterday was to kill him..."
"That's right." Gongsun Xun became serious. He raised his head and clasped his hands and sighed. "People's hearts are unpredictable. God knows what Liu Junlang is thinking. God knows what Zhang Jiao is planning?"
"But if so, how should we respond?"
"What can we do?" Gongsun Xun said disapprovingly. "Of course I have to hide this suspicion in my heart, and then be careful about Taiping Road, while calming down Uncle Fang!"
"Uncle Fang, can we just keep it quiet?" Lou Gui was still puzzled.
"This is natural." Gongsun Xun explained calmly. "To keep him calm, I just need to ask him for a formal document beforehand. If he gives it, I will definitely fulfill the agreement and turn around to capture the Zhang brothers;
And if he doesn't give me this official document, I won't touch Zhang Jiao, just take the post of governor of the county he sent and take office immediately."
Lou Gui was speechless for a moment.
"Of course." Gongsun Xun said quietly while looking at the river embankment in the north. "There is no need to let this new warrior know about this calculation, let alone other people..."
Lou Gui raised his hand and said yes, but couldn't help but look back at a group of dignitaries from the Zhao Kingdom who came after hearing the news... These people heard that Gongsun Xun had woken up, and they couldn't wait to divide the land and discuss merits.
——————I am the dividing line on the second day of my life——————
"(Ma) Fei Gu was worried about Taizu's divine power and knew that he was inevitable, so he secretly formed an assassin to plot against Taizu. When the incident was revealed, he sheltered the Zhao family in Wei County. The Zhao family was a regular servant of the Zhao Zhong clan and was famous in Hebei Province.
"However, Taizu used Guan Yu as his envoy to kill Fei Fei in Zhao's garden, and to restore his authority to the prefectures and counties. When Zhang Jianjiao of Taiping Road saw him, he was frightened for a moment, so he offered a thousand pieces of gold to bribe Liu Yan, the governor of Jizhou."——
