Nine hundred and twentieth chapters return to the court
Xu Zheng followed Dong Xuan and walked into the door of Qiwanlou. He raised his eyes and looked inside, and asked: "County Magistrate Dong, is there anyone you want to see me?"
Dong Zhang nodded and said: "You will know after entering."
Xu Zheng hesitated for a moment, then followed Dong Xuan into the building.
Dong Xuan was in front and Xu Zheng was behind. They went up to the third floor.
Here on the third floor, there are many people in casual clothes standing. They all look ordinary, but there is an aura of chill in their bodies. Their eyes are like knives, wishing to see them into people's bones.
.
When Xu Zheng saw this, his expression became solemn. He didn't even need to fight with him. He could tell by just feeling the aura on the other person's body that these people were not simple. I'm afraid that if he picked anyone at random, he wouldn't be able to handle it!
Dong Xuan led Xu Zheng to the door of a box and stopped. Xu Zheng looked up and saw three people sitting in the box, one man and two women.
He knew the man. He was the young man who had just defeated Liu Buxin outside. The two women sitting on his left and right were each about 20 years old. They had beautiful faces, but there was a coldness in the corners of their eyes and eyebrows, which made people feel
Inaccessible.
The other woman was about fifteen or sixteen years old. Although she was young, she was very beautiful and beautiful. She was the kind of woman that people could remember for a lifetime just by looking at her.
After Xu Zheng looked at it, he subconsciously looked at Dong Xuan beside him and whispered: "County Magistrate Dong?"
"Go in!" Dong Xuan waved his hand towards the box. Xu Zheng hesitated for a moment, then took off his shoes and walked into the box in a polite manner. He looked at Liu Xiu sitting in the middle, cupped his hands and said, "I don't know what this means.
Who is your lord?"
Just now he wanted to fight Liu Xiu, but Liu Xiu only replied with three words: You are not worthy.
Inwardly, Xu Zheng had a very bad impression of Liu Xiu, but Xu Zheng could also see that this young man's identity was definitely not simple. Even Dong Xuan respected him.
"Xu Zheng, sit down!" Liu Xiu waved his hand to the side.
Xu Zheng bowed and knelt down on the mat beside him. He raised his hands again and said, "Who is your lord?"
"My name is Liu Xiu." Liu Xiu announced his name.
Oh! Liu Xiu! Xu Zheng first recited his name silently in his heart. After a moment, his eyes suddenly widened, he looked at Liu Xiu in disbelief, and stammered: "You...you are
…”
In the past, there may have been many Liu Xiu in the world, but now, there is only one Liu Xiu in the world, at least within the control of the Luoyang court, there is only one Liu Xiu, and that is the emperor.
Those who used to be named Liu Xiu had their names changed after Liu Xiu became emperor. If they have the same name as the emperor but don't change their names, is that okay?
Looking at the horrified Xu Zheng, Liu Xiu nodded and said, "Yes, I am the person you think of!"
Xu Zheng opened his mouth wide and stared blankly at Liu Xiu. He didn't know how long it had passed before his body suddenly shook. He hurriedly got up and left the table, walked to Liu Xiu, knelt down on his knees, and said in a trembling voice: "Grass people... Xu
Zheng, pay homage to His Majesty!"
As he spoke, Xu Zheng kowtowed forward.
Liu Xiu looked down at Xu Zheng and said, "As far as I know, there used to be a general named Xu Zheng in the Qingdu Army, who has the same name as you!"
Hearing this, Xu Zheng's forehead, which was resting on the mat, immediately began to sweat, and his body began to tremble.
Liu Xiu continued to ask: "Do you know this person?"
Xu Zheng broke out in cold sweat, his mind was racing, and after thinking about it, he raised his heart, gritted his teeth, maintained a kowtow posture, and said bravely: "The common people dare not deceive Your Majesty, the common people are Xu who was in the Qingdu Army back then.
Politics.”
Hearing this, Long Yuan, Long Zhun, Long Bu, Xu Ying, Xu Ting, Xu Fei and others who were standing outside the box all raised their hands to hold the hilts of their swords, and gathered towards the door of the box in unison.
The eyes looking at Xu Zheng became more and more sharp.
Liu Xiu was very satisfied with Xu Zheng's truthfulness. At least he was a smart man and not stupid enough to lie in front of him. He smiled and asked, "Why did you come to Luoyang?"
Xu Zheng cleared his throat and said: "Ever since your Majesty defeated the main force of Qingdu, the common people have been disheartened by the Qingdu Army. With a group of confidants, they quit Qingdu, came to Luoyang, and opened a wine shop.
, and then settled down in Luoyang." After saying this, Xu Zheng kowtowed three times and said: "The common people in Luoyang are definitely not harboring ulterior motives or plotting anything evil. They just want to live a peaceful life of peace and quiet. Your Majesty, please be aware of this!"
Liu Xiu said slowly: "You said you wanted to live a peaceful life in Luoyang, but what you did was not like that. You bribed county officials, harbored fugitives, and formed gangs. What exactly did you want?"
Xu Zheng kowtowed again and said in a trembling voice: "The grassroots people know their mistakes! The grassroots people know their mistakes!" After a pause, he whispered: "Most of these brothers of the grassroots people come here because of their reputation. They come to Luoyang from all over the world.
, seeking the protection of the grass-roots people, the grass-roots people...the grass-roots people really can't keep them out. However, although the grass-roots people have protected them, the grass-roots people have also made it clear to them that when living in Luoyang, they must live in peace and order, and can no longer do evil."
At this point, Xu Zheng raised his head, looked at Liu Xiu, and continued: "The grassroots can assure your majesty that these brothers of the grassroots have all reformed since they came to Luoyang and have not committed any evil deeds.
, please ask your Majesty to take a closer look."
"Since you have committed a crime before, you cannot escape punishment by reforming yourself now. Otherwise, what is the use of the law?" Dong Xuan said coldly at the door of the box.
Xu Zheng was shaken and kowtowed again, not daring to say anything.
He never dreamed that the county government's investigation of Northeast Guo District would be led by the emperor himself. He never thought that the young man who defeated Liu Buxin would be the emperor. For Xu Zheng, this was incredible.
.
The box fell silent, Xu Zheng didn't dare to speak, while Liu Xiu picked up the tea cup and drank the tea slowly without saying anything else.
The quiet atmosphere made people feel more and more depressed, and even this atmosphere made Luo You feel that his nerves were tightening unconsciously, his chest felt tight, and he felt like he couldn't breathe.
Xu Zheng, who was kneeling below, felt the sensation. Sweat beads were dripping down his nose and temples, and the mat under him was soaked to a large extent.
Bang! Liu Xiu put the tea cup back on the table with a soft sound. Xu Zheng below also trembled. Liu Xiu finally broke the silence and asked: "Xu Zheng, how long have you been in Luoyang?
?”
Xu Zheng quickly replied: "Reporting to your Majesty, the common people have been in Luoyang for four years."
Liu Xiu asked: "Have you always been in Chunpeng Lane?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"So, you should be very familiar with Northeast Guo District."
"Uh, yes... yes, Your Majesty!"
Liu Xiu looked at Xu Zheng, whose expression was changing, smiled slightly, and said: "You should know very well what the county government's purpose of investigating Northeast Guo District this time is and what it is looking for. Xu Zheng, I think you should know something about the county government
Do you want the information?"
Xu Zheng lowered his head, with more beads of sweat on his forehead.
He naturally knew what the county government was looking for. What the county government was looking for was Gongsun Shu's detailed work. He did know something about the detailed work, but he couldn't say it.
Dare not say.
He said in a trembling voice: "The common people...the common people don't know..."
Before he finished speaking, Liu Xiu interrupted: "Xu Zheng, do you not know, or do you dare not say it?"
"Grass...grass people..."
"Si'a's dead soldiers are elusive and unpredictable. Even if you have been in Luoyang for four years and have dozens or hundreds of brothers under your command, you would not dare to provoke them, would you?" Liu Xiu asked calmly.
Xu Zheng kowtowed forward and said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty has learned from this!"
Liu Xiu said with a smile: "If you can help the court, you can make up for it. If you can't help, what's the use of the court keeping you waiting in Luoyang?"
Xu Zheng lowered his head and his body was shaking violently. The meaning of Liu Xiu's words was already very straightforward. If the group of people headed by Xu Zheng could help the court, the court might not pursue their previous crimes.
They can even be tolerated to continue to stay in Luoyang. Otherwise, the court will deal with them in an official manner, arresting them when they need to be arrested, and punishing them when they need to be punished.
Hua Feiyan, who was next to Liu Xiu, said, "Xu Zheng, you have to think clearly. This is Luoyang, not Chengdu. Which side should you be on? Do you still need to think too much?"
Xu Zheng subconsciously raised his head and looked at Hua Feiyan blankly.
Hua Feiyan stood up, walked to Xu Zheng, and said with a smile: "You spent a lot of money to bribe the county clerk, but how long do you think he can protect you with just a clerk? If you can heart
If you go to the imperial court and get the imperial court's protection, will you still have any worries in the future?"
"This... this girl is..."
"My name is Hua Feiyan."
"It turns out that she is a flower beauty, and the common people are disrespectful!" Xu Zheng quickly kowtowed to Hua Feiyan again. Hua Feiyan said: "Xu Zheng, you are an old member of Qingdu and should have been expelled from the capital, but if you can be loyal to the court,
If you are willing to help the court, you can sit back and relax in Luoyang in the future. You should be very clear about the pros and cons!"
Xu Zheng listened carefully to Hua Feiyan's words. When she finished speaking, Xu Zheng finally made up his mind, kowtowed to Liu Xiu and said: "Your Majesty, Xu Zheng, a common man, is willing to work hard for your Majesty, work hard, go through fire and water, and die.
Don’t give up!”
Liu Xiu had a smile on his face and looked at Feiyan with admiration. It seemed that Feiyan was much better at dealing with these people in the world! He nodded and said, "Xu Zheng, get up!"
"Thank you... thank you, Your Majesty!" Xu Zheng straightened his body up. He didn't know whether he was too nervous or had been kneeling for too long. He was about to stand up when his legs went weak and he knelt back down.
Hua Feiyan stretched out her hand, took his arm, and helped him up. Her inadvertent move moved Xu Zheng so much that he subconsciously took two steps back and bowed to Hua Feiyan to express his gratitude.
"Xu Zheng, please sit down first." Hua Feiyan waved his hand to the side. Xu Zheng bowed and saluted again, and then sat down in a proper manner according to the position pointed by Hua Feiyan.
Hua Feiyan said: "Gongsun Shu sent a large number of craftsmen to Luoyang. There should be many of their strongholds in the Northeast Guo District, right?"
Xu Zheng carefully looked at Hua Feiyan and Liu Xiu, pondered for a moment, bowed to Hua Feiyan, and said: "Beautiful flower, if the common people are willing to help the court and find out Gongsun Shu's details, what can the court do to the common people...
What kind of protection is given?”
Hua Feiyan smiled when he heard the words, and the corners of his mouth raised slightly. Xu Zheng looked at Feiyan and was afraid that she would misunderstand, so he quickly explained: "The Cao Min's family members passed away one after another during the war. The Cao Min has not yet married. One person has enough to eat, and the whole family
If you are not hungry, the grass-roots people are not afraid of death, but there are more than a hundred brothers under the grass-roots people, the grass-roots people...the grass-roots people have to find a way out for them!"
Hua Feiyan understood what he was saying. She pondered for a moment and asked, "Xu Zheng, have you ever heard of Yunxi Pavilion?"
Xu Zheng's eyes flashed and he said quickly: "I've heard of it! Common people have heard of Yunxi Pavilion!"
"Are you willing to take your brother to work in Yunxi Pavilion?" Hua Feiyan asked with a smile.
Xu Zheng was startled for a moment, and then without saying a word, he kowtowed to Hua Feiyan and said, "The common man thanks the flower and the beauty is blessed!"