Chapter 3 Heroes Are Like Earthmen Like Iron (Part 2)
The inner prison gate fled in panic from the ground, and the onlookers inside the inner gate dispersed one after another. After a while, Sima Lang, who was already fourteen years old, came in a hurry.
Gongsun Xun didn't dismount, so he sneered directly on the horse: "How come you have grown so tall after I haven't seen you for several years? You are completely unlike your father!"
Sima Lang's face turned red from suppressing his emotions, but he just raised his head and responded: "General Wei's words are wrong. Two years ago, when I was only twelve years old, I was already tall. When I was selected as a boy, the people in Luozhong Taixue thought that
I am an imposter. In fact, people in our tribe have always been tall..."
"So that's it." Gongsun Xun suddenly realized. "Your father is not like your clansmen!"
Sima Dalang was so bullied that he almost shed tears.
"Let's not talk about this matter." Gongsun Xun probably also felt that it was inappropriate to bully a child, so he let him go lightly. "I just ask you, as the prefect of this county, why can't I even rule the inner gate?
Can't get in? I've heard for a long time that the Sima family is the crowned clan of Wen County, but I didn't expect to be so tyrannical and lawless that even the county monarch would shut them out... Tell me, how many times has your Sima family bullied your neighbors and resisted?
How many times have the officials of the imperial court reached such a domineering level?"
"The father of the son, he is..." The topic changed back, and Sima Lang was covered with such a big hat. As he spoke, his eyes couldn't help but turn red, especially when he heard the noise and turned around to see a middle-aged man in civilian clothes.
When the man himself came belatedly, he burst into tears.
"I have seen General Wei." The middle-aged commoner man, about forty years old, smiled in front of him, and then bowed and saluted. "I have seen that all the generals have wise men. The younger generation and the people in the clan are all imitating them. Why should General Wei tease them?
?They can’t help but be scared.”
Gongsun Xun saw that although this man was dressed very simply, judging from his well-groomed beard, clean clothes, and manners that were neither humble nor overbearing, he seemed to be someone with a good background, so he immediately led the others to dismount, smiled and said to him
The other party faces each other:
"Sir, you're welcome. Sima Jiangong and I had a life-and-death relationship when we killed Wang Fu and fought against Cao Jie that day." Gongsun Xun laughed and said. "And my concubine, Feng, was also a matchmaker for Sima Jiangong. Now,
My son is already three years old... With such a relationship, no joke can be overdone."
Even though I was mentally prepared to ask myself, I was confused by these two sentences... Could it be that my clan brother Sima Fang really did such a shocking thing with this guy? Sima Fang is such a person,
It doesn’t look like it! But there’s no reason not to believe what the dignified General Wei said?
No matter what happened, although this man was confused in his heart, he still looked calm, and he quickly nodded and said that it was so. When Gongsun Xun saw that a serious person who could make the decision came out, he also left Sima Lang and asked carefully
The origin of this person.
It turned out that this man was called Sima Zhi, with the courtesy name Shuyi. Although he was from the Sima clan, he had already had a relationship with Sima Fang's family for a long time. According to their hometown saying, because now Jingzhao Yin Sima Fang and him
The tribesmen live in the west of this village, so the villagers always call this branch Xisima; while Sima Zhi and other tribesmen live in the east side of the village, so they are called Dongsima.
Of course, after all, the two tribes are from the same family, and they live in the same neighborhood, so the relationship is naturally very close. It doesn't matter if they are said to be the same tribe. After all, there is no need to ask questions.
In addition, Sima Zhi himself is also a well-known figure. In his early years, he was elected as Xiaolian, served as a county magistrate, and served as a councilman. When he was about to be transferred to the two thousand stone position, his mother died suddenly, so he simply returned home.
He was obliged to pay filial piety in his hometown, and he served for six years just like Yuan Shao, even his biological father who died early. This year was just the beginning of the mourning period, and happened to encounter the Yellow Turban Rebellion, so he did not serve as an official.
Gongsun Xun exchanged greetings with the other party in front of the inner door, and after asking about the situation, he naturally showed more respect... To be fair, with Sima Zhi's background, qualifications, and clear hope after being raised for six years, I'm afraid
It is possible to receive an edict at any time and become the leader of the two thousand stone party, so it is natural to treat it with the necessary respect.
Not to mention, after this encounter, this Sima Zhi was kind-hearted in conversation and simple in style. It seems that he should be a pragmatic, serious and moral scholar, not a vain person.
"General Wei comes to the countryside as a county prince, so he should be treated well. Unfortunately, my elder brother (Sima Fang) is currently in office in Jingzhao, and the younger generation has not yet tied up his hair... You might as well come and sit at my house, although there is no drink.
, but there is also clean hot soup to ward off the cold." After some polite greetings, Sima Zhi did his duty and became the host of the Sima family here.
Gongsun Xun naturally had nothing to say. He came here to take advantage of Sima Fang's absence, and then use the 'friendship' between the two to coax several knowledgeable people from the Sima family to let him know the inside story of Hanoi County... Now there is Sima Zhi
How could you not want to face such a more easy-going and knowledgeable person?
"It's just that the home is small and simple, and the general has so many entourages that I'm afraid he won't be able to entertain him." Just as he was about to leave, Uncle Sima said helplessly. "You might as well follow my nephew to settle in his home."
"It doesn't matter, I'll just ask my chief historian, Lu Ziheng, and Sima Han Yigong to go with me to Mr. Shuyi's house. The rest will go their own way." Gongsun Xun didn't care at all.
In this way, Sima Zhi led the way, Gongsun Xunzi, Lu Fan, and Han Dang went there, but the others swarmed into the house where all the people named Sima... Some people were really tired, so they naturally followed and beat them.
The energetic Sima Lang went to his home to drink soup and rest; some ignored the cold winter wind and ran around to make inquiries; some people were addicted to officialdom and simply called the village chief and the village stalwarts, pavilion chiefs and Zheng Zheng who came after hearing the news.
Erba Jing asked about local news.
Not to mention the others, Gongsun Xun, Lu Fan, and Han Dang followed Sima Zhi to the latter's house, but they couldn't help but look at each other... It turned out that Sima Zhi claimed that his home was small and simple, and everyone thought he was refusing.
I was worried that too many sergeants would trample the courtyard, vegetable garden and the like. After all, this man had served as a county magistrate and was from a noble family. The house had its own regulations. How could it be called small?
However, when I actually arrived, I discovered that Sima Zhi's home was really simple. The house in the courtyard was already crowded with children and teenagers. The former was holding enlightening things such as "The Book of Filial Piety".
Reading aloud, the latter was already studying the Book of Songs, The Analects of Confucius and the like.
There really isn't much room to stay.
In this situation, it is no wonder that when Sima Lang saw Sima Zhi before, it was as if he was seeing his own father.
Of course, all joking aside, Gongsun Xun, Lu Fan, and Han Dang were all respectful.
In fact, as the hot soup with ginger slices was served, Gongsun Xun, who was sitting on the old couch at the end, showed some respect for this person:
"I just came here and took up my post in your county. Brother Shuyi was originally a pillar of talent and a well-known elder in the village. Now Sima Jiangong is far away in Jingzhao. How should I administer the government? Please teach me!"
Sima Zhi, also known as Uncle Sima, heard this and did not make any excuses. He directly put down his soup bowl and agreed: "This is about my hometown. If General Wei is confused, I will naturally answer all questions."
Gongsun Xun felt more and more like the other party, so he immediately asked: "Brother Shuyi, what should be the priority when taking over Hanoi due to the war in Fangping?"
"If someone else asked," Sima Zhi, who was opposite, twisted his beard and said with a smile, "I would definitely say it was to suppress bandits. However, as far as General Wei is concerned, I don't need to comment on this matter."
Gongsun Xun, Lu Fan behind him, and Han Dang all laughed, but there were no words of self-effacement.
"Mr. Shu Yi's words are very true." After laughing, Lu Fan proudly spoke for his lord. "Not to mention that the Hanoi knights who have just returned home and been disbanded have been obeying orders under my king's tent for a long time. If needed, they can
Dispatch can be used at any time to clear out the countryside. Even these five hundred righteous followers are enough to maintain public order in Hanoi... Moreover, my prince had other arrangements when he came. Now the newly appointed Chaoge Commander Guan Yu Guan Yunchang is my prince.
The most useful and courageous general in the army; there is also Qianzhao Lianzijing, who is a simple man but loyal in his actions. He is now regarded as the magistrate of Bo County by my family... The two are one to the east and the other to the west, and the heart of Hanoi is determined.
No worries.”
Sima Zhi was even more emotional after hearing this and praised him repeatedly.
After some polite greetings, Gongsun Xun put down the ginger soup and simply asked: "In addition to the banditry, what do you think Brother Shuyi should put first?"
"I think we should put the exiled people first." When the other party asked again, Sima Zhi also looked serious.
When Gongsun Xun, who was opposite, heard these two words, his heart tightened: "Please give me some advice, Lord Sima."
"The Yellow Turban chaos spread across the country, and Hanoi was not immune. However, because Ma Yuanyi, the commander of Quzhou, was directly arrested here, and the remnants of Ma Yuanyi were quickly defeated by the general here, they were not reduced to the situation in Jizhou.
"It's empty." Sima Zhi said eloquently, as if he had already prepared a draft, as if he had thought about the matter in detail. "But according to my observation and inquiry, there are always two empty rooms in ten rooms and one empty room."
Gongsun Xun nodded slowly.
"Moreover, Hanoi is different from other places. It has suffered a certain amount of war, and it also happens to be close to Jizhou, where the chaos is the worst. Therefore, in addition to the 12% or 20% of the people who fled here, there are also many people who came to seek refuge from Jizhou."
Sima Zhi finally said a core problem here. "In other words, the current situation is that on the one hand, there are local people who gave up their land at the beginning of the war and became refugees elsewhere; on the other hand, during the war, there were refugees from other places who came here and had nothing to rely on.
... Naturally, there are also powerful local families who take the opportunity to invade. Of course, to be fair, it may not be a bad thing at this time. As for how to deal with it, given the prestige of the general, I think it can be done at will. There will naturally be arrangements before next spring plowing, so I won't.
There’s no need to go into more detail and say more.”
Gongsun Xun sighed for a moment... He didn't know that what Sima Zhi said hit the point.
It can only be said that it was a good thing that he was allowed to go to the places where the war was most serious in Jizhou, where ten houses were empty. This kind of deserted situation and the huge scale of the new influx of refugees, or if he wanted to let powerful wealthy people gather in the refugees, I am afraid that all the refugees would be killed.
To be forced with a knife.
Of course, as Sima Zhi said, Hanoi was directly under the Sili government after all, and the war had not affected much. Gongsun Xun was confident that he could easily handle the loss of one-tenth of his household registration and the influx of refugees.
But having said that, this Sima Zhi is indeed a rare political figure, and he hits the nail on the head. It's just a pity that he has reached the level of hidden two thousand dan, and he can't recruit him anymore.
As soon as he thought of this, Gongsun Xun immediately nodded and said: "What Brother Shuyi said is all to the point, banditry, refugees, land... I will naturally start to do these things immediately. But Brother Shuyi, we need people to do things, so I
Although there are some talented people around me, in Hanoi and the eighteen counties, the people around them are still stretched thin! What's more, the war has spread. I heard that when the tension was high, many county officials abandoned their posts to avoid disaster.
Now, there are vacancies in the county... You have lived here for a long time, so you know a lot about where local talents want to come, right?"
Sima Shuyi smiled slightly, but he did not shy away from it: "When a new official comes to a place, he must recruit local talents. This is common sense, not to mention that it is also their luck to follow a person like the general... How can I hide it?
Private?"
Gongsun Xun really likes each other more and more.
"Well... there are three people first, three brothers. These three people may not apply for the recruitment, but the general has to take it anyway, and he must make a big fanfare and seriously go for the conquest." Sima Zhi thought for a moment and then spoke calmly.
"General, please be prepared," he said.
Before Gongsun Xun could react, Lu Fan next to him had already woken up: "Mr. Shuyi is saying that Hanoi is under the rule of Sili and has its own top aristocratic family? I wonder which family is actually higher than the Sima family?"
Gongsun Xun was also suddenly enlightened and looked at Sima Zhi again... He was also a little curious about this.
"Although our Sima family has been inherited in Hanoi for a long time, and our elder brother Jiangong from the west was General Zhengxi, so he is considered the top clan in the county, but what does it mean in Hanoi?" Sima Zhi said bluntly. "Don't you know, general?
After Zhang Liang and Zhang Zifang were left behind, they have been practicing martial arts in Hanoi for hundreds of years, and they have been wearing hairpins for generations. Hasn't half of the generation lost the glory of their ancestors?"
Gongsun Xun couldn't help but look back at Lu Fan and Han Dang, but he really had nothing to say... Is Zhang Liang's descendant in Hanoi?
This face really deserves it!
"The current head of the Zhang family is the servant Zhang Yan and Zhang Gongwei. Needless to say, this goes without saying. His eldest son Zhang Fan, his second son Zhang Cheng (the same name as Soochow), and his third son Zhang Zhao (the same name as Soochow)...
...They are all still young and have not been promoted yet." Sima Zhi continued to sigh. "In any case, the general should send people to recruit these three brothers. But as I just said, these three people are also
You may not be able to apply. One is because of his family background, and the other is Zhang Fan, the eldest brother of the three. Zhang Gongyi is a quiet man with a Taoist hermit style. On that day, Situ Yuan Gong took the initiative to marry his daughter to him, but he was directly rejected.
He refused, which shows that he really doesn’t have much idea about his career and economy.”
Gongsun Xun became more and more speechless... This Zhang Zhao was just mentioned by the same name. If this Fan really had such an attitude, he really had no choice but to pinch his nose and come to this person symbolically.
a show.
"No matter what, I will try my best to invite you." After one year, Gongsun Xun couldn't help but urge. "What about other than the Zhang brothers?"
Sima Zhi smiled slightly when he heard the words, but turned to ask a seemingly unrelated topic: "General, before you were blocked by the Limen Prison in front of the door, and you were remonstrated by my nephew... And I
But they say they are copying others, do you know what's going on?"
Gongsun Xun thought for a while and then suddenly realized: "Could it be that they all learned it from others? I thought that the eldest son of Sima Jiangong's family was a serious and upright boy, but he was just pretending to follow the same example?"
Hearing this, Sima Zhi laughed more and more and shook his head.
"Let's not talk about this," Gongsun Xun quickly shook his head. "Then who is this truly serious person?"
"This man is a native of Wen County. His surname is Chang Lin and his courtesy name is Bohuai. His home is actually not far from here. General, you might as well go and meet him." At this point, Sima Zhi paused and replied.
He said sternly, "Among the younger generation, he is the best in our county in terms of morality and talent. When the general wants to hire someone, he is actually the first person I think of."
Gongsun Xun didn't say a word, but immediately took out a piece of paper from a brocade bag in his waist, and then took out a handful of broken charcoal chips. When Han Dang next to him saw this, he immediately stood up and actually took the charcoal basin from the ground.
He picked it up, then took out a piece of fine charcoal of better quality and handed it over.
In the end, General Wei actually leaned down on the couch and roughly wrote down Chang Lin's name and information.
These days, there have long been small bags made of leather and brocade, which are probably equivalent to wallets or handbags in later generations, but this operation still made Sima Zhi look in a daze.
"What else?" Gongsun Xun held fine charcoal in one hand and pressed the paper with the other. He raised his head and asked. "Brother Shuyi is straightforward, but he might as well be more transparent. The more talents, the better."
Sima Zhi suddenly smiled bitterly: "General, are you planning to acquire all the talents in Hanoi?"
"Isn't it possible?" Gongsun Xun said confidently, but he took the opportunity to add the names of the three brothers Zhang and Fan, and then continued to urge. "Brother Shuyi, come quickly."
"There is a man whose surname is Han, whose name is Xuan, and whose courtesy name is Xiangyou. He is worthy of being a political advisor."
As Gongsun Xun wrote, his heart moved slightly, but he soon realized that this name should not be the same... Moreover, now he also understood in his heart, how could he be a waste if he could sit firmly as the governor of a county in troubled times? I just didn't know.
Where are Wei Yan and Huang Zhong now?
"There are two more people, both in this county. One of them, named Yang Jun, also named Jicai, is a student of Bian Rang, a famous scholar in Chenliu, and a son of a famous family in this county; the other person's surname is Wang Xiang, named Xibo...
...His family was very poor and could only make a living by shepherding sheep. He secretly studied and was discovered by his master and was beaten in public. However, he was discovered by Yang Jun, who ransomed him, married him, and started a family. To be honest, the general
, although these two are young, they are both well-educated men, and the general may wish to use them in writing."
Gongsun Xun nodded slowly, and then kept moving... After all, the writing skills of Bian Rang's students were not too bad anyway, and this kind of slave who shepherded and studied secretly made people believe in his talents.
"There are three other people in the county, but they are famous for their martial arts... The general does not know that on that day you led the light cavalry from Zhuojun south to our Hanoi. Previously, Ma Yuanyi's remnants were causing chaos in the army. The county has been peaceful for a long time, and it was impossible to resist it. Only
Two people gathered together to protect the village. One was called Han Hao, one was called Fang Yue, and the other was called Hao Meng." Sima Zhi continued.
Gongsun Xun became more and more angry because after all, he actually knew two of these three people directly. He just didn't expect that Hao Meng was not from Bingzhou but from Hanoi.
However, after writing the names of the three people, Gongsun Xun couldn't help but raise his head and ask one more question: "Brother Shuyi, why don't you stop commenting? Which of these three is better?"
"Why do people who use martial arts need me to comment?" Sima Zhi immediately smiled and shook his head. "The general is a famous general in the country!"
"Martial affairs are also related to civil affairs," Gongsun Xun disagreed. "Being a general must be brave and prudent, but it must also be about personal morality... Brother Shuyi can only tell you which one you value most."
"I think Han Hao has a lot of integrity. He is not just a brave man, he may be of great use."
This name is unexpected, because he happens to be the one Gongsun Xun has never heard of, that is, the person Gongsun has never mentioned... However, Gongsun Xun, who now has a certain degree of trust in Sima Zhi's personal quality and vision, is still in Han
A line was lightly drawn with black charcoal under the name Hao.
"What else?" Gongsun Xun asked again.
"The general is going to hollow me out." Sima Zhi also became helpless. "Although I have always been in the county, I have not left home for six years because I have to observe filial piety. In fact, not many people in the county know about it. This is the ultimate...
"
"Brother Shuyi, why do you have to be so modest? Just say it."
Sima Zhi was forced to do nothing, so he could only try his best to continue: "Actually, there is another person who is my student. He has just been crowned. The general might as well use him as a county official to train him. This is a little selfish..."
"Brother Shu Yi, just tell me your name."
"This man is called Zhao Zi, and his courtesy name is Junchu. He is a famous family in the same county... In fact, there are only four families in our county: Sima, Chang, Yang, and Zhao. However, there is no need for the general to hire him. I will send someone to him later.
Just go call him."
Gongsun Xun laughed and shook his head: "What else?"
"It's really gone!" Sima Zhi said helplessly.
"Mr. Shuyi just said that the three families of Sima, Chang, Yang, and Zhao in your county are the Guan clan." Next to him, Lu Fan couldn't help but clarify his intentions for his lord. "Why are there Chang Lin, Yang Jun, and Zhao Zi?
But there is no one named Sima?"
Sima Zhi suddenly understood, but he raised his hand and pointed to the west: "In that case, my nephew is already fourteen years old and can tie his hair during the Chinese New Year. I will make the decision. Let him tie his hair today and then become a general."
?”
Gongsun Xun laughed proudly... It is a common political tradition for the sons of aristocratic families to tie their hair and become county officials. As long as they are not low-ranking petty officials, they usually have a decent background. However, no matter what, Sima Lang can be hired as a follower.
, which was an unexpected surprise.
Even Lu Fan nodded with satisfaction. After all, from his point of view, he may not know the special meaning of the surname Sima in his lord's heart, but Sima Lang is the direct eldest son of the Sima family, and he came to be with his lord.
The concierge is enough to express the Sima family's sincerity.
As a result, everyone was very happy, and Gongsun Xun threw away the finger-sized charcoal in his hand and carefully looked at the list in his hand, which included:
Zhang Fan, Zhang Cheng, Zhang Zhao;
Chang Lin, Han Xuan;
Yang Jun, Wang Xiang;
Han Hao, Fang Yue, Hao Meng;
Zhao Zi, Sima Lang.
A total of twelve people!
According to what Sima Zhi said, among them were both literary men and political advisors, people who could be used as minions, and people from prominent families who could raise their social status, as well as people like Zhao Zi and Sima Lang who were just as worthy as others.
A useful teenager.
Moreover, there are several characters among them who can mirror the stories of Aunt Gongsun, which shows that this list is by no means false.
In particular, Chang Lin, who Sima Zhi particularly admired, was ahead of Han Xuan, and Han Hao was ahead of Fang Yue and Hao Meng. Gongsun Xun was particularly looking forward to it.
————I am particularly looking forward to the dividing line————
"Since Xun was wearing a yellow turban, his power and virtue were outstanding. He paid homage to the general of the guards and led the guards in Hanoi. The soldiers and people heard about it and were very encouraged. He crossed the river to Wenxian County and met the famous scholar Sima Zhi. He asked for talents and virtues in Hanoi, and he went to
As he was talking on the couch, Taizu took some paper from his bag to write down. When the ink was gone, he took charcoal from the furnace and kept writing. Seeing this, he sighed and said: "The general is in a high position and has great power, but he is still thirsty for talents. Now he takes it."
All the heroes from Hanoi are in the bag, what's wrong with it? 'He stood up and bowed, and all the heroes from Hanoi were in his chest." - Wang Can in "The Heroes of the Late Han Dynasty"
PS: If nothing unexpected happens, there will be another update tonight to make up for the embarrassment of missing words yesterday.
