Chapter 2178 Jackal and Fox


    Sometimes, poverty limits some vision, but more often than not, it is one’s own cognition that blinds the eyes. Along with Zhang Shi''s own misunderstanding of the hussar system and Pang Tong, in the following time, Zhang Shi had to face a new difficult choice, whether to kill himself or kill others.


    ??As the head of the wealthy family fell to the ground, countless people delivering the message began to run around wildly, without sparing any horsepower. The horse''s **** was already stained with blood. Even so, it still couldn''t win the rider''s pity, only more vigorous whipping.


    It’s over! It’s over! It’s incredible…』


    The horse couldn''t understand at all why the rider who usually took good care of him suddenly seemed to be a different person and so cruel today. However, in order to avoid being whipped twice, the horse also ran as fast as possible. Running on the land of Sanfu.


    It’s over! It’s over…” Fear spread.


    ? Pang Tong ordered Zhang Shi to track down the lists provided by those large Lianshao owners to determine whether they were true...


    ?Countless fast horses spread the news, and the special officials in Sanfu Land immediately changed their expressions and became frightened.


    Zhang Shi was a corrupt official. In any case, his own strange stone courtyard cannot be explained clearly. Zhang Shi also knew that there were many officials like him, at least everyone was like this before...


    How long was it before? It was at least two or three hundred years.


    ??Then Pang Tong suddenly expressed that he wanted Zhang Shi to investigate thoroughly. Zhang Shi hadn''t moved yet, and the officials around Sanfu were already panicking.


    The big owners of Lotus Spoon were punished because they were implicated in food prices and even the subsequent agitation for riots. However, those who corrupted the refugees'' money and enriched their own pockets were caught. This is almost equivalent to stealing. Of course, there is nothing to say about the Qiusi''s money and food. If he is caught, he will die.


    ?? But is it such a serious problem to take other people’s money, especially the money of big local households? As for that, is it such a serious problem? After all, for most officials, taking money has become a habit, but not taking money is not a habit.


    ?So now it is a terrible thing to ask so many people to change their habits...


    ‘This is Zhang’s fault! You are so unbecoming of a human being! 』


    ! Don’t conspire with each other! 』


    After getting the news, many people immediately began to insult Zhang Shi in various ways.


    As for why he didn''t scold Pang Tong, it was because on the one hand he didn''t dare, and on the other hand he thought that Zhang Shi had instigated this matter. If Zhang Shi had not farted at that time, then everything would have been over after killing the big Lianshao man. Will there still be such troublesome problems as now?


    For most officials in the Han Dynasty, there is no concept of corruption in their minds.


    In other words, we know that corruption is wrong, but everyone does it, so what is wrong will naturally be right. After all, for the same thing, if the status of both parties is exchanged, the concepts will be completely different. There are too many, whether it is corruption or filial piety, whether it is trivial or boring, whether it is irresponsible for leaving the cabinet or illegally obtained income...


    In the thinking of many officials in the Han Dynasty, the emperor is the big world, the local areas are the small world, the center is the big court, and the local areas are the small courts. They are still like the princes of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. In addition to paying tribute and taxes to the superiors , and the rest is naturally considered to be one''s own.


    How can it be considered corruption if you take things from your own territory?


    ??I didn’t use the Qiusi’s money, nor did I pay less taxes, so why did it become a crime?


    Big fish eat small fish, and small fish eat shrimps.


    Three to four hundred years of the Han Dynasty, especially after Liu Xiu, this became more and more like this.


    Why can’t it happen today?


    What is the reason for this?


    The wealthy people in Lianshao were arrested and killed, and the officials near Lantian were traced. These people could understand and would not feel anything was wrong. But now when the problem fell on their heads, these people began to become angry. And there was a lot of resistance.


    Of course it''s easy to talk and talk, but there are still food expenses every day. These Han Dynasty officials have been used to it all their lives. How could they be modified and changed just because of a sentence or two, or a few principles of benevolence, justice and morality? Of your own behavior? Even if many people listened to the three theories put forward by Zheng Xuan on behalf of the Hussars General, they still scoffed and continued to go their own way.


    Nothing else, because many people think it is impossible...


    ?So now the focus has unknowingly shifted from the dead wealthy people and the arrested Lantian officials to Zhang Shi.


    Zhang Shi, with a dark face, was sitting in a side room of the official residence outside the Hussar General''s office. He had maintained this sitting position for nearly an hour without moving.


    Now Zhang Shi regrets it very much. If he had known that things would turn out like this, he would not have spoken so loudly in the Qishi Courtyard. If he had known that his affairs had been controlled by Pang Tong, he would not have thought that he could challenge everything. …


    If it is the most valuable thing, I regret that there is no cure.


    Although Zhang Shi is not dead now, he feels that it is better to die now... Of course, this is just the feeling. Zhang Shi is still reluctant to die, and he knows that there are many people outside who want him to die, so he does not dare Go home and just stay in the official house.


    ?The sun is gradually moving to the west, and time is gradually passing by.


    Zhang Shi decided to spend it first and used the word "drag" first. He would wait as long as he could...


    ?However, Zhang Shi did not know that all his reactions were actually expected by Pang Tong and others.


    "Zhang really didn''t dare to do anything..." Pang Tong waved the people who were watching Zhang Shi to step back first, then he held his chin and said, "A certain bet will definitely change within three days..."


    Jia Xu laughed and said, "I will bet within five days..."


    ?Then Pang Tong and Jia Xu looked at Zhuge Liang on the side.


    Zhuge Liang smiled and said, "In this case, I can just act as an arbitrator." 』


    The three of them couldn''t help but laugh together.


    "Kong Ming..." Pang Tong turned to Zhuge Liang and said with a smile, "Wen He said the heat has not yet come, what do you think?" 』


    "The fire is not high enough..." Zhuge Liang pondered for a moment, then looked at Pang Tong and then at Jia Xu, "So let''s continue lighting the fire now, right?" 』


    Jia Xu smiled but did not answer.


    "Hahaha..." Pang Tong waved his chubby palms, "Yes, the heat is not enough, just put it on the rack and bake it again!" 』


    Zhuge Liang nodded and said: "After this, people like this will be more restrained..."


    Jia Xu shook his head and said, "It''s just for a while. 』


    "This is the responsibility of you and me..." Zhuge Liang''s eyes were bright, "The failure to find out the strange stone courtyard is also a mistake..."


    "Why should Kong Ming care about this matter... The Lord ordered the three of us to work together to make up for each other''s mistakes... What''s more..." Jia Xu waved his hands and said, "Now that the world is collapsing, if the people don''t want to cause chaos, it can''t be invaded in vain. Then we gather together again to survive, just like fish swimming in a cauldron, knowing that it will not last long, and it will take only a moment to breathe! 』


    Pang Tong nodded and said, "When I was filial to the emperor, I selected eight famous people in the world to serve in different branches of the world. In order to punish corruption and improve discipline, the eight envoys all worshiped at the same time. All the government and the public were looking forward to it. But what happened?" 』


    Zhuge Liang said: "There is a saying that the jackal is on the road, so ask the fox!" Therefore, we should examine ourselves and not make the same mistake as before! 』


    Pang Tong laughed and said, "I just like to eat, and my salary is enough..."


    "Kong Ming is really self-denial and devoted to the public..." Jia Xu also smiled and said, "Don''t worry, you two, there is absolutely nothing here... Well, it''s not..."


    "ah? Pang Tong was startled and said, "Wen He, this matter is of great importance and should not be joked about." 』


    ?Zhuge Liang also became serious.


    What Pang Tong and Zhuge Liang mentioned before was the matter of Emperor Shun of the Han Dynasty...


    During the reign of Emperor Shun of the Han Dynasty, eight people including Du Qiao, the official of Guanglu, Zhou Ju, the official of Shouguanglu, Guo Zun, Feng Xian, Luan Ba, Zhang Gang, Zhou Xu and Liu Ban were sent to the prefectures and counties. , give evidence to tell whether. 』


    Although the responsibilities of these eight people can only be described in eight simple words, it was actually considered a pioneering work at the time. After all, the Eastern Han Dynasty was different from the Western Han Dynasty. The original political foundation of the Eastern Han Dynasty was local large families. The so-called eight major families of the Eastern Han Dynasty were not false names, so the degree of corruption was naturally more severe than that of the Western Han Dynasty.


    Under such circumstances, Emperor Shun of the Han Dynasty sent eight envoys, who were basically like the imperial envoys of later generations, to the local areas. On the other hand, it is to establish a positive role model. On the other hand, it is to investigate and deal with corrupt officials. If corrupt state governors and county officials are investigated, they must be reported to the court for punishment by Yima Express. As for county-level officials, They have the right to directly prosecute them on the spot. And this move officially kicked off the common corruption of the trinity of Qingliu eunuchs and relatives...


    These eight "imperial envoys" are basically "well-known senior scholars and have been in power for many years". In other words, they are also at the level of beasts of the famous Zhuan family, and the lowest official position awarded is "Shouguang" "Doctor Lu" was generally regarded as deputy ministerial treatment in later generations, which clearly shows Emperor Shun of the Han Dynasty''s determination to punish corruption.


    But it’s still useless.


    The reason is what Zhuge Liang said, "When the jackal is on the road, ask the fox."


    This sentence was said by Zhang Gang, one of the eight envoys.


    ?Du Qiao and other seven envoys left the capital Luoyang one after another and rushed to the designated prefectures and counties. Only Zhang Gang took off the wheels of the messenger''s chariot and buried it beside the capital pavilion.


    When someone asked him why, Zhang Gang said angrily: "The jackal is on the road, so ask the fox!" 』


    Because at that time, the most corrupt official in the court, General Liang Ji, was rampant, and there were also domineering eunuchs in the middle palace, so Zhang Gang believed that the root of local corruption was all in the court, and now asking eight envoys to inspect the local area was nothing more than It''s just a matter of catching a few foxes, but the jackals are still in power in the court. It''s a complete trick to treat the symptoms but not the root cause.


    The final result is naturally just like what Zhang Gang said. In addition to Zhang Gang leaving thick records, the other five envoys including Guo Zun, Feng Xian, Luan Ba, Zhou Xu and Liu Ban are unprecedented in the history. There are only a few words, but it is obviously beyond description.


    Although there is a record of Zhou Ju, there are only 12 words: "I impeached the corrupt and cunning, recommended the public to the Qing Dynasty, and the court called it". The expression is general and empty, and its effectiveness should not be overestimated. It can basically be ignored.


    Another Du Qiao inspected Yanzhou and achieved the most commendable results. He commended Li Gu, the prefect of Taishan, as "the best in the world" in politics, and then reported the corrupt officials such as Liang Rang, the prefect of Chenliu, Fan Gong, the prefect of Jiyin, and Cui Yuan, the prime minister of Jibei. "More than ten million"...


    It''s just a pity that these people who were reported were related to each other. Liang Rang was Liang Ji''s uncle, and Fan Gong and Cui Yuan were also close to Liang Ji. Therefore, with Liang Ji''s protection, everything was settled.


    Du Qiao and Li Gu were eventually killed because of their opposition to Liang Ji, and their bodies were exposed in the north of Luoyang. Since then, the so-called "Qingliu" basically ceased to exist. All the nobles, relatives and eunuchs worked together, eating and drinking together. Although they verbally abused each other, their actions were exactly the same.


    ?You have to be tough when you are forging iron. Pang Tong and Zhuge Liang dared to take heavy action because they were honest and had no involvement in related interests, so they naturally had a tough attitude. When they heard that Jia Xu was short of breath, they couldn''t help but become a little nervous.


    Jia Xu waved his hands, "Although I have several properties, they are all ordinary small courtyards, and they were acquired by Xiliang back then... I mean... Hehe, that... Wenhou place..."


    "Marquis Wen..." Pang Tong pinched his fat chin and remained silent for a while.


    Wenhou is in the Western Regions. Although the distance is relatively far away, there is not completely no communication. Moreover, Wenhou is an important general sent abroad. If there is a relatively large-scale corruption, it is likely to lead to a series of adverse reactions.


    “…This matter cannot be concealed,” Zhuge Liang said, “It’s better to report it to the lord…”


    Pang Tong nodded and said, "It should be so...but isn''t Li Changshi in the Western Regions..."


    Jia Xu sighed, his voice a little lonely, "I''m afraid Li Changshi... eh..."


    Pang Tong and Zhuge Liang were stunned for a moment, and then they couldn''t help but sigh.


    How many heroes since ancient times were eventually defeated by time...


    Li Ru is not the first, nor will he be the last.


    …(╯︵╰)…


    Xuxian County, well, it should also be called Xudu.


    ??On both sides of the Chongde Hall, the royal musicians were always able to change all the music to the same tune, smoothly and without any ups and downs.


    Liu Qi and Liu Cong, dressed in red and black court attire, with Jinxian crowns on their heads and ribbons around their waists, walked forward in respectful steps, one behind the other.


    A pair of brothers who were in trouble. The two people were at odds with each other before because they were competing for the position of Jingzhou. But now the two people are fighting over each other, but they are taking advantage of others. When the two people meet again this time, they don''t know whether to call them brothers or treat them as brothers. Enemies…


    , Liu Qi...』


    , Liu Cong...』


    See Your Majesty! 』


    ??A little Huangmen shouted loudly at the door of the main hall, "Xuan!" Go! 』


    Liu Qi and Liu Cong lowered their heads and followed the Huangmen **** to the main hall, where they fell to the ground and paid homage.


    Although many people are not following the rules now, Liu Xie is still the nominal emperor of the Han Dynasty. According to the rules, Liu Xie must meet with the governor before he goes to the local government.


    『Two dear friends, please sit down and sit down. 』


    Thank you, Your Majesty! 』


    Solid process.


    When Liu Qi and Liu Cong sat down, the movement outside the hall came to an end. After a few crisp bells, it became quiet.


    Liu Xie on the throne is wearing a brocade robe with gold dragon patterns and a crown on his head. The pearls hanging down are shaking slightly, scattering soft brilliance. Behind Liu Xie, two palace maidens wearing brocade robes and long skirts stood waiting with feather fans. There were also guards in golden armor standing around the hall, standing motionless like sculptures. There is a dragon-head incense burner placed under the throne, which is rising with the aroma of fine incense. It changes gracefully and shows the royal style.


    Spices in the Han Dynasty were expensive and rarely used unless the emperor met with ministers.


    Liu Xie coughed lightly and said, "The two dear ministers are from the royal family, and their families have inherited the classics. They are actually the pillars of the country and my humerus." Today''s world is turbulent, the four sides are unequal, and there is an urgent need for talents to stabilize the four sides. The two beloved ministers are loyal to the country, regardless of honor or disgrace, and take responsibility for the country, which is commendable. In this way, you should set an example for your ministers, and you will also receive a special favor. The land of Xu Qing was originally prosperous and the people were happy, but first there were the Yellow Turbans, then there were thieves, and there was endless chaos, so that now the people''s livelihood has withered and the people are in trouble. I hope that you two dear friends will remember my deep trust and be united with me from now on. Ying national affairs, Jing''an place. In this way, I love you and I share the same joys and sorrows with the great Han Dynasty, and we work hand in hand to get along with each other. We should leave it in history and serve as a model for all generations! 』


    After Liu Qi and Liu Cong heard this, they stood up and bowed down again, saying in unison: "I am scared!" In order to receive His Majesty''s favor, I can only repay His Majesty''s care by devoting myself to the affairs of the country, working diligently, being loyal to the country, safeguarding peace for the people, and worrying about everything until I die. It’s hard to express my sincerity and fear, but I can only thank you again for Your Majesty’s grace! 』


    ??These are sample plays that have generally been practiced before. Although the words may be slightly different in the process, they are basically similar, so there will naturally be no differences.


    After all, even if there is really any problem, we will not make trouble on this occasion...


    Liu Xie smiled and nodded, then ordered the **** to come forward and presented them with the bronze seal of the governor...


    One Jingzhou shepherd was replaced by two governors. From a certain point of view, it does not seem to be a blessing, but if it involves my own life, whether this business is worth it, or the feeling in my heart at this moment, I am afraid that only Liu Qi and Liu Cong can do it. Got it.


    A **** came forward and read loudly the various items that Liu Xie had given to the two governors, such as scepters, official robes, etc., all of which were valuable or not, but it was hard to say. After all, they were royal gifts. It cannot be measured by ordinary money. After reciting for a long time, the eunuch''s voice was thin and sharp, like an earpick poking hard into the ears, which made people uncomfortable, but Liu Qi and Liu Cong just had to kneel down to listen and express their gratitude in time...


    After finishing reading these things, Huangmen came forward with the wine baron again. Liu Qi and Liu Cong took it with both hands, drank it down in one gulp, and thanked them again. The whole process was completed.


    Originally, according to Liu Xie''s idea, he wanted to say a few words of comfort, and then bring Liu Qi and Liu Cong closer to him. After all, they were the two governors sealed by him, and they were not the same as the previous governors. It''s not exactly the same, but after they actually met, Liu Xie was a little hesitant and didn''t know what to say...


    On the one hand, it was because Liu Xie had some experience in political struggle, and after meeting Liu Qi and Liu Cong, although there was no problem with the etiquette and regulations, if he said that he could entrust important matters, it felt a bit insufficient.


    Another aspect is that although the golden-armored guards around him are said to be like statues, Liu Xie does not believe it if there is no spy on Cao Cao among them. In addition, Cao Cao himself is in Xudu, Liu Qi and Liu Cong are sure I still have to go see Cao Cao. Even if I say something now, if Cao Cao asks about it later, will he tell it out again?


    How did the ancestor Chongqi die, and then how did his brother disappear?


    Liu Xie, Liu Qi and Liu Cong stared at each other with big eyes and small eyes. Liu Xie did not dare to say anything. Liu Qi and Liu Cong, who were under the Dan level, did not know what to say. After an embarrassing silence, Liu Xie finally waved his hand to express the end. This was a fruitless meeting...


    Looking at the retreating figures of Liu Qi and Liu Cong, and then at the golden-armored guards in the hall, Liu Xie finally just sighed softly, and then clenched his fists.


    One day…


    One day!


    (End of this chapter)