Hou Xu's men were let go, and Chen Mu took Hou Xu to prepare to go back.
Xu Bin, the captain of the city gate, was Zhang Rang's man. He walked side by side with Chen Mu and said with a flattering smile: "Chen Sima, this time I sent troops, I violated the daily duty order. You see..."
Chen Mu responded with a smile: "I will report Colonel Xu's achievements to Duke Rang. I think this disobedience should be understandable."
Xu Bin was overjoyed: "Thank you so much Sima."
"It's a small matter, Colonel Xu."
While the two were talking, someone suddenly came riding on horseback in the distance, looking flustered and anxious.
Chen Mu recognized that the man was a guard commander of Zhang Rang's mansion.
"Chen Sima, it's not good."
The man was shouting from a distance, acting as if something serious had happened.
When he got closer, Chen Mu said calmly: "What happened?"
"Supervisor Zhang, he is dead."
The man responded sweating profusely.
Zhang He was the leader of Zhang Rang's prison slaves. He was actually a steward. In the Han Dynasty, he was called a supervisor, which meant supervising family affairs.
His death was not a big deal to others, but to Zhang Rang, it was definitely a big deal.
Because Zhang He was alert and smart, he won Zhang Rang's trust and often asked him for advice, making him his right-hand man.
Including this time Zhang Rang ordered Zhang He to follow Chen Mu. He said it was to assist, but in fact it meant more to let someone he trusted monitor him.
Now that he died suddenly, Zhang Rang still didn't know how he would be furious.
"what happened?"
Chen Mu's face darkened.
Zhang He is dead?
Something to be expected.
How could he deceive Zhang Rang if he didn't die?
On the surface, his face was full of pain, his brows furrowed, and he asked the man: "Why did you die suddenly?"
The man cried mournfully: "Supervisor Zhang was chasing Xun and Zhao Gong, but was ambushed. The men and horses suffered heavy casualties. Only the young master ran out. When the young master called the men and horses, the thieves had already run away, and only Supervisor Zhang's body was found."
In the Eastern Han Dynasty, the young master of his master's family was not called the young master, but was usually called the young master or the young master. Zhang Rang was an eunuch who had no sons but only an adopted son, Zhang Feng. The young master referred to him.
Chen Mu said with a solemn expression: "Although Supervisor Zhang is dead, fortunately Hou Xu has been caught. It's better to go back to Mr. Zhang's residence first."
"only."
The man obeyed his orders.
Everyone returned to the city in a mighty manner, first returning to the East City Granary.
When we came out before, Wang Jun came with us, but Wang Jun's equestrian skills were not good and he could only ride slowly. To catch up with the enemy, he had to ride fast. Wang Jun couldn't keep up, so naturally he could only wait here.
Wang Jun was also shocked when he heard the news of Zhang He's death, but fortunately he heard that Hou Xu had been captured. At least the mission was completed, and he finally felt relieved.
But now was not the time for greetings, so the two of them met together and rushed to Zhang Rang's mansion.
After entering the door, they saw a mat placed in the courtyard outside, covered with a cloth, and a human figure could be vaguely seen.
It seems to be Zhang He.
Zhang Rang sat in the hall, frowning deeply.
Zhang He was not a eunuch, but his nephew. Zhang Rang usually trusted him very much.
Now that the family nephew suddenly died, it was a big blow to Zhang Rang.
"Give me permission, my condolences."
"Condolences."
Chen Mu and Wang Jun went in and offered comfort to Zhang Rang.
Zhang Rang sighed and said, "Sit down, it's this child who is so unlucky, I can't blame anyone."
The two sat on the ground, and Wang Jun said: "Although Rang Gong lost Zhang He, fortunately Zigui caught Hou Xu and relieved Rang Gong's heartache."
"oh?"
Zhang Rang's eyes lit up and he asked: "Where?"
Chen Mu replied: "He has been taken to Luoyang Prison."
Luoyang Prison was the only two imperial prisons in the Eastern Han Dynasty. Originally there were Weijun Imperial Palace and Julu Imperial Palace. Later, they were abolished by Emperor Guangwu, leaving only Luoyang Prison and Yanwei Prison.
Although the imperial prison functions as a prison, it only houses serious prisoners and high-ranking prisoners, and the guards are much stricter than ordinary prisons.
According to the "Book of the Later Han·Hundred Officials Five" records, Luoyang Prison was jointly managed by Sili Xiaowei, Henan Yin, and Luoyang Ling. The powers of the three parties were covered. There were more than 100 jailers, jailers, and jailers sent by each.
, there are a large number of guards guarding the outside of the prison, and the strictness is evident.
A big rebel like Hou Xu, second only to Ma Yuanyi, is qualified enough to be imprisoned in imperial prison.
Hearing that Hou Xu was taken to Luoyang Prison, Zhang Rang felt relieved and said, "In that case, I will go there."
What are you doing on this trip?
It was nothing more than a threat to Hou Xu about what he should and should not say after meeting the emperor. As long as the emperor's doubts were dispelled, he, Zhang Rang, would once again become the great eunuch who could control the wind and rain in the Han Dynasty.
However, Wang Jun said awkwardly: "Rang Gong, although I have been caught, those things have escaped and fallen into the hands of some people who have evil intentions towards you."
Zhang Rang was shocked: "What? Why did you catch Hou Xu but didn't get that batch of things?"
Chen Mu explained: "Mr. Zhang, Hou Xu sold things to the party members. We got the news and divided our troops into two groups. I went to capture Hou Xu, and Zhang He went to chase the party members. Maybe he underestimated the enemy and led too few.
If you are ambushed and killed by human hands, you will naturally not be able to get your things back."
"partisan?"
Zhang Rang was very puzzled and said: "I have never had any grudges with the party members. This year Huangfu Song wrote a letter asking to lift the ban on the party. The emperor asked me if I would agree. I also helped them. How could they treat me like this?"
Why do you do this?
Not sure?
Chen Mu sneered in his heart.
Zhang Rang does not have any grudge against the party members, because the first disaster of party imprisonment was caused by the great eunuch Hou Lan Zhao Jin during the reign of Emperor Heng of the Han Dynasty. At that time, Zhang Rang was just a humble little Huangmen, standing in front of Hou Lan and others.
You guys have no right to speak at all.
Later, when Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty came to the throne, a second party-related disaster occurred, and this time the culprits were Wang Fu and Cao Jie. Although Zhang Rang had already made a fortune and was promoted to a regular servant, he was still just Wang Fu and Cao Jie's follower.
, did not gain power.
And the last disaster caused by the Party imprisonment eight years ago because of Cao Luan was still a good thing done by Cao Jie and had nothing to do with Zhang Rang. If the Party members hated him, wouldn't Zhang Rang be more unjust than the scapegoat?
But in fact, Zhang Rang still didn’t understand what kind of people the party members were?
Like the current imperial officials, they were originally imperial officials. The difference is that they are upright, tough in style, and dare to fight against evil forces.
For example, the cause of the first party prison disaster was that Hou Lan Zhaojin's party members ignored the law and committed crimes. Cheng Yan, Zhai Chao, Liu Zhi, Huang Fu and other court officials were not afraid of the powerful and dealt with these people, offending the eunuch group.
Including Li Ying, the leader of the Eight Juns, he also executed the eunuchs and his followers, offending them and triggering the beginning of the party's imprisonment.
Nowadays, although there are some such upright people among the officials in the imperial court, there are far fewer of them due to persecution. Many people dare to be angry but dare not speak out. Even if they are righteous in their hearts, they dare not show it.
Most of the other officials were mediocre and lived by paying money to buy officials. Even Zhang Wen, a well-known veteran of the two dynasties, asked him for it when Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty moved him to Sikong.
With the money for promotion, you can imagine how dark the current court politics is.
What the party members want is political clarity. They don’t care whether you have helped them before. As long as you, a powerful eunuch, play with power and disrupt the government like Hou Lan, Zhao Jin, Wang Fu, Cao Jie and others, they will kill you.
you.
Therefore, although Zhang Rang has no grudge against the party members, he is naturally opposed to his political goals. If he doesn't cause trouble for you, Zhang Rang, how can he cause trouble for the emperor?
After all, this is the current thinking. The emperor is wise and the king is good. It was just that he was temporarily deceived by the eunuch and made the wrong move.
As long as they can clear the emperor's side and kill all the eunuchs, they can assist the emperor in governing the country and dissuade the emperor from going to the right path. From then on, the politics will be clear, the seas and rivers will be clear, and the world will be prosperous.
From a formal point of view, the dispute between the Party members and the eunuchs in the late Eastern Han Dynasty is quite similar to the dispute between the Donglin Party and the eunuchs in the late Ming Dynasty. Unfortunately, the Party members in the Eastern Han Dynasty were genuine gentlemen with extremely high moral standards, while the Donglin Party members in the late Ming Dynasty
Lin Party members...
"The party members did this simply because they wanted to negotiate terms with Zhang Gong. They had just been pardoned. They had no political accumulation and no official connections. It was difficult for them to become officials."
Chen Mu pretended to analyze: "Now there is a huge opportunity in front of them, how could they miss it."
After listening to his words, Zhang Rang sneered: "You actually want to hold me hostage, I'm afraid they won't live that long. I immediately ordered to have all the troops from the Zhongdu officials, the city gate school, and the Luoyang government office to arrest these people."
return."
Chen Mu said hurriedly: "Mr. Zhang, no."
"Why?"
Zhang Rang was puzzled.
Chen Mu said: "Since they dare to do this, it means they have already thought of a plan. Even if you arrest and kill people, you still can't find anything. If the evidence is placed in front of the emperor's desk in two days,
.When the time comes, your actions will undoubtedly be more convincing. When the time comes and there are two supporting evidences, the emperor will definitely be furious and suspect that Zhang Gong is having an affair, which will lead to disaster."
Zhang Rang thought about it carefully and felt that what Chen Mu said made sense.
Because the things are in the hands of Party members and the Party ban has just been lifted, Party members are being arrested for no reason. Isn't this to destroy evidence?
The emperor is not a fool, he loves money, but if his country and power are gone, where can he make money?
Therefore, it is okay to do evil, and it is okay to disrupt the government.
But if you want to subvert his empire, Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty doesn't care whether you are his favorite eunuch or not. Even if you are his biological father, he will definitely kill you.
Thinking of this, Zhang Rang nodded: "What Zigui said is that I almost missed a big event."
Chen Mu said with a smile: "As the saying goes, a small impatience will ruin a big plan. Since they have demands, just talk to them carefully. As long as the things are obtained, or Zhang Gong dispels the emperor's doubts and regains power, such a small
Partisans are nothing more than clowns and are not worthy of anything."
"I'm afraid they will be greedy."
Zhang Rang expressed his concerns.
Chen Mu said confidently: "I'll just go and talk to them. We will definitely reach a settlement and it won't embarrass Mr. Zhang too much."
Zhang Rang was overjoyed: "Then I'll leave it all to Zigui."
"But negotiations require sincerity. Please order Mr. Zhang to release the captured party members and let them bring back the news of the negotiations."
"You have full authority to handle these matters on your own without asking me. Zigui has 10,000 trust in me when doing things."