The Treacherous Minister Who Sold His Master for Fame (10) (The Treacherous Minister or the One Who Endured Humiliation? (Sanhe...)

After returning home that day, Hu Zifang locked himself in the study room, writing furiously, and scribbling a letter.

This letter was written with tears in his eyes, and he was in great pain. Through his years of study, he vividly described how painful and sad he was with Ji Changze.

He deeply realized how scheming Ji Changze was, and how he witnessed how horrible means this man used to harm his enemies.

He focused on describing the eunuch chief and Lord Zhao.

Finally, he wrote that Ji Changze didn't know why he treated him as his own and pulled him into a small group. At first, everything was fine. He only thought that the people of the Ji Party were a little naive and a little stupid.

The result!!!

Facts proved that he was wrong.

The people of the Ji Party were all old foxes!

They had all practiced for thousands of years. They looked innocent on the outside, but in fact, they were all bigwigs in the entertainment industry!

They also teamed up with Ji Changze to hide it from him.

At this point, Hu Zifang suddenly froze, thought about it, crossed out this sentence, and changed it to, they obviously didn't discuss it, but they all pretended not to see the spy when he came to eavesdrop.

What a big drama of "My eyes are not broken but I am blind".

Only him!!

He was kept in the dark!! He was incompatible with them, and he was suspicious and looking for evidence. Afterwards, those Ji party members achieved their goal and turned into a silly and innocent appearance in front of him.

They simply deceived him like a three-year-old child.

Outrageous!!

Desperate!!

After writing a three-page complaint letter, Hu Zifang put down his pen with satisfaction, sealed the envelope, and asked the servants to send it to his friend far away in Gezhou.

Although he knew that Shengyan couldn't help him, it was good to have someone to share and scold Ji Changze with him.

And didn't Shengyan hate Ji Changze the most? Friends scolding the same person together is also the sublimation of friendship.

Liu Shengyan, who was far away, didn't know what happened in the capital. After receiving Huang Renshen, he took his people to Gezhou without stopping.

When he arrived in Gezhou, the prefect of Gezhou had obviously received the letter, had taken off his official hat and official uniform, and was waiting for Liu Shengyan to arrive.

After Liu Shengyan conveyed the order, he did not defend himself. He followed the order without saying a word and asked his men to tie him up and walked out.

Looking at the back of the prefect of Gezhou, who seemed to have aged ten years in an instant, Liu Shengyan sighed heavily.

"Even if the prefect can get through this time safely, I'm afraid this matter will be a great blow to him."

Huang Renshen was no longer an official. He was only wearing ordinary robes and followed Liu Shengyan. After hearing this, he also sighed: "It's a pity, he has done well enough."

If it were the two of them, they would not have the confidence to do better than the prefect of Gezhou.

As soon as there was a sign of disaster, he immediately sent an urgent document to the capital. Not only did he send it once, but he quickly opened the warehouse to release grain. He did not run away until the situation got out of control and the refugees got out of control. Instead, he stayed as a target until the end.

Officials knew how terrible the out-of-control refugees were.

In particular, they knew very well what kind of terrible reaction these refugees would have when they saw the officials who were supposed to take care of them.

At that time, even if the prefect of Gezhou went directly to Beijing to confess his guilt, the risk level would be lower than staying in Gezhou.

Under the circumstances at that time, he could be torn to pieces by the angry and hungry refugees at any time.

But he has stayed until now, and has always stayed in the government office in the most difficult and dangerous times.

But such a good official was thrown such a big black pot by His Majesty.

The two looked at each other and sighed in tacit understanding.

The prefect of Gezhou failed to report the disaster to the emperor in time, which led to the disaster getting out of control and the people were living in misery. Therefore, His Majesty decided to let the people deal with it. He tied the man in an open space, and anyone could do anything to him at will. Even if the prefect of Gezhou died there, His Majesty would not pursue it.

This news spread quickly throughout the city, and people talked about it and looked at each other, not knowing how to react to such a thing.

They came there with a tentative mood, and actually saw the prefect tied up in the sun, his face was red, and he looked like he was about to faint from the sun.

"Is this really the prefect?"

"I have seen the prefect before, this is the prefect."

"Can we really do anything to the prefect?"

"The prefect is a good official. He was running around when the disaster was the worst. Why is His Majesty going to punish him?"

Everyone talked about it, and so far, no one dared to do anything.

Liu Shengyan and Huang Renshen stood together, looking into the distance with heavy hearts.

Huang Renshen asked: "Sir, do you think these people will let the prefect go?"

Liu Shengyan shook his head: "I don't know either."

In this world, it is not that if you are a good person, others will know the good things you have done and be grateful to you.

There are many people who do good things but are still blamed.

He said to Huang Renshen, who was the only one who knew Ji Changze's "true face" (he thought so) besides himself, with great regret: "I have been thinking all the way why Changze did this and why he gave the right to deal with it to the people. After thinking all the way, I figured it out."

"He thought that since the prefect was a good official, the people would be grateful for his kindness and would never do anything to him."

Liu Shengyan shook his head and looked at the skinny common people, each of whom looked like a walking corpse: "I guess he didn't expect that the situation in Gezhou would be so bad. The prefect... I'm afraid his life is at stake."

The people's anger needs an outlet, and the prefect who was pushed out at this time is the best outlet.

Huang Ginseng also guessed this.

He couldn't bear it, but he had no choice but to turn his face away and said, "Sir, I can't bear to see this. I'm going back first."

Before he had taken two steps, he suddenly heard a noise from behind.

"Someone's up there."

"There really are people."

"What's he doing up here?"

The people standing below were discussing in low voices, and everyone's eyes fell on the person who came up, including Liu Shengyan and Huang Ginseng.

At this moment, it seemed that everyone's heartbeats had slowed down.

Quiet--

Everyone has a tacit understanding not to make any sound, so that the person who goes up will do what they want.

Liu Shengyan and Huang Ginseng were both very nervous at this moment. They couldn't help but hold their breath and stared at the man.

The man had his back to the audience, but his voice sounded like a young man.

He choked on his words, took something out of his pocket, and actually took out a bamboo tube, opened it and handed it to the prefect who was kneeling under the cool sun, and put it to his mouth.

"Prefect, please drink some water."

"Although I can't read Chinese characters, I don't understand the slightest bit of benevolence, justice and morality. I can't understand what His Majesty's imperial edict says, but you, the prefect, have always been kind to us. At the beginning, the corrupt official forced Since we are selling our daughters and sons, my lord, after you come, you will punish the corrupt officials, recover the stolen money little by little, and help us redeem the children who were sold at home. If the money is not enough, you will use your own salary to supplement it. "

"In the year of the flood, you let the people run away and stood in the most dangerous place until the end. Now that there is a famine and everything is in chaos, you are still running around helping everywhere all day long."

"You are only forty this year!! But for us, you are so tired that your hair is white! What do you think of His Majesty? The common people don't know, but the common people know that people must repay their kindness. Today, the common people are standing here If anyone wants to touch the magistrate on this stage, I will fight to the death! I will never let a good person be bullied for no reason!

His long string of words was sensational, full of energy and at the same time tragic and firm.

By the time he finished speaking, before the people below could react, there were already cheers from the crowd.

"good!!!!"

"indeed!!!"

"That's how it should be! Ever since the magistrate came to our Gezhou, there's nothing he's done that's not sincerely for the people!! If we bully you, wouldn't we be no different from animals!!"

More and more people are joining the cheering team.

Finally, more and more people came to the stage with little food or water, scrambling to feed the prefect who loved the people like his own children.

The prefect was already determined to die, but he didn't expect such a turn of events.

And this was even more surprising to him than His Majesty taking back his life.

As an official who wholeheartedly serves the people, being protected by the people he once tried his best to protect made him happier than gold falling from the sky.

"Thank you... thank you all, folks..."

His mouth was dry, and his words were hoarse and sobbing, but now they sounded very pleasant to the ears of Liu Shengyan and Huang Ginseng.

They all know that now the people have decided to keep the prefect alive.

This is already the best ending, and this incident may become a good story in the future.

Liu Shengyan was very pleased: "I didn't expect that the folk customs here are so simple. It's because the magistrate reaps the benefits of what he sows melons."

"Exactly."

The two of them were laughing when they suddenly saw the young man who was the first to take the stage turned around and jumped down, then turned to face them. His face looked very familiar.

Liu Shengyan: "???"

Isn't that the groom he hired to take him all the way? ? ?

When a few familiar faces left the crowd, he became even more confused.

"Then, isn't that one of ours?"

Huang Ginseng was also confused. She turned around and saw Liu Shengyan staring at him for a few seconds. Then he suddenly had a look of realization on his face and hurriedly waved his hand: "It's not me, it's not me."

If it wasn’t yellow ginseng, who else could it be?

Who else besides Ji Changze.

In the government office, Liu Shengyan listened silently to what his men were saying. After a long pause, he said, "So, you are not a groom, you are a secret guard."

After saying that, he looked at the other person: "You are not a cook, you are also a secret guard. I can't blame you for making such delicious food and dare to be a cook."

Both of them nodded respectfully.

Liu Shengyan continued; "Master Ji sent you here to do this? No, how did he know what would happen in Gezhou?"

The secret guard of the cook clasped his fists: "Master Ji just told us that no matter what happens, as long as the prefect comes to the stage, we will read out the words on the stage according to the words we have memorized long ago. When the time comes, there will be the first person to speak. , the people will naturally follow suit."

Liu Shengyan: "...So he had already decided this way when he proposed this method?"

Chef's Secret Guard: "My lord is always thoughtful."

Liu Shengyan's heart was really complicated at this moment.

I should have known that since the image of those ruthless and treacherous officials was a disguise, then his proposal to "punish" the prefect must be just a superficial phenomenon.

Changze... How much did he silently pay behind their backs?

In the capital, Hu Zifang sent the letter and began to practice calligraphy contentedly, unaware that his brother Liu had already rebelled.

The next morning, after the court session, Ji Changze led his team straight to the western suburbs.

It was impossible for 70,000 people to squeeze into the capital. They usually camped in the western suburbs. On the one hand, the western suburbs were spacious and it was very convenient to practice martial arts. On the other hand, the western suburbs were facing the city gate, and it was convenient to provide support if there was any emergency.

But all this was based on the health of these 70,000 people.

Even though they were mentally prepared before coming, Hu Zifang and others standing behind Ji Changze were still shocked when they stood on the stage and looked at the appearance of the personal soldiers below.

These personal soldiers were of different ages, some looked only sixteen or seventeen, and some looked at least forty years old. Their clothes were full of holes and dirty.

Their postures were also very uneven, their eyes were dull and their faces were blank. They were not soldiers who could fight on the battlefield, but refugees who had fled from famine.

The personal soldiers in the capital, who should have the best food and the best clothes in the Wen Dynasty, looked like this?

If someone really came to the capital, what would they use to protect His Majesty? They looked listless and had no energy at all. Their hands were covered with frostbite. Could they hold the long spears steadily?

Ji Changze knew what they were thinking without looking back. Seeing the personal soldiers in this state was definitely a great shock to them.

After all, the Wen Dynasty was so powerful. When the first emperor was alive, the Hu people robbed a small village on the border. The first emperor was furious and sent troops to attack the Hu people. They were beaten so hard that they begged for mercy and surrendered. They offered many rare treasures and swore not to set foot in the Wen Dynasty again before they were let go.

It has been decades since this happened, but even five-year-old children know about it, because their elders have proudly told them about it since they were young.

The Wen Dynasty is strong and no one dares to invade. This is what every Wen Dynasty person is sure of.

And now, this group of literati who are confident in the country's strong military have seen the most elite soldiers of the Wen Dynasty.

While they are in disbelief, they inevitably worry.

If even these 70,000 most elite soldiers are like this, then what about the other soldiers of the Wen Dynasty? Can they still protect the peace of the Wen Dynasty by killing ten people as they did in the past?

Ji Changze: Of course not.

The Wen Dynasty is powerful, there is no doubt about this, otherwise the emperor would not have persisted for so long.

But no matter how powerful a country is, it will not be able to hold on if it encounters an unreliable monarch. At least in the original timeline, the final outcome of the Wen Dynasty is destruction.

After all, those little rabbit princes did not wait for the victory that killed their father, and the eldest prince did not see the dawn.

The guards knew that a new superior was coming to take over them, and they looked up with numbness.

In fact, it didn't matter to them who took over.

Anyway, they were facing the same or even worse predicament as now. They were all good men, and they should have been soldiers defending their country, but they were like prisoners waiting to die in the tent.

Ji Changze pretended not to see the numb eyes of the guards, and waited until the surroundings were quiet before he stood on the stage and started to speak.

A new official always has to say a few words according to the rules.

Ji Changze didn't say what he would do in the future, nor did he introduce himself. He just asked them if they had been to the capital to buy things and if they knew what the capital was like.

The guards didn't react, and even looked at each other with a bit of self-mockery.

The biggest difference between the imperial guards in the capital and soldiers from other places is that they cannot leave the capital, they can only move around the capital, and they have to obey the orders of their superiors. The monthly military pay is almost equivalent to nothing. The prices in the capital are expensive. Even if they have a break, no one will go shopping.

What else can they buy? They will starve to death.

Ji Changze has always been a stable person. In such a situation where no one responded, he was able to quickly and simply tell them that His Majesty had handed over the 70,000 people to him and asked him to train and take care of them well without spending a penny from the national treasury.

As soon as these words came out, the soldiers who were originally full of "whatever you want" immediately showed panic on their faces.

The crowd became noisy, and they began to discuss in a panic. Those who had not looked at Ji Changze also looked up at him.

"Does this mean that the court doesn't care about us?"

"No more military pay for us? What will happen to my family? We had some money every month before. If we don't have any money in the future... my whole family is counting on me. Do you want my whole family to die?"

Even if these people can't read, they know that the daily expenses of 70,000 people are not small. If there is no support from the court, this new official alone will definitely not be able to support them.

When Zhou was in charge of them before, many people starved to death.

This time it might be even worse.

Ji Changze didn't care what they said. Anyway, even if he promised now, those people wouldn't believe it. Just do it directly to these illiterate rough men.

When many people were still panicking and thought that they would starve to death in the barracks in the next moment, they suddenly smelled a fragrance that made them swallow their saliva.

"Meat! It tastes like meat!!"

"Where does the smell of meat come from?!"

"It's really meat! I smelled it too!"

The crowd was a bit more chaotic than before. These soldiers, who had not eaten a piece of meat for at least five or six years, sniffed and smelled the smell of meat in the air intoxicatedly.

Someone with sharp eyes pointed at the stage and shouted: "Look up there! The smell of meat seems to be coming from above!"

After hearing this, the people around them also looked up, and sure enough they saw a few strong servants carrying a big pot on the table, and then placed the big pot firmly.

The cauldron had obviously just been taken off the fire. The soup inside was still bubbling, and the aroma of meat drifted down the wind. The people who were discussing below gradually became quiet, and their eyes were literally glowing green. Staring at the pot of meat, I kept drooling.

The new superior officer brought this up. Could it be that he wanted to give it to them to eat...

Even if his reason told him that such a good thing could not happen, the superior officials would eat human flesh without spitting out their bones, so how could he buy meat for them out of his own pocket?

But his body couldn't help but lean forward, and he looked at Ji Changze with longing eyes, hoping that he would tell him that the meat was for them to eat.

Then, Ji Changze waved his hand, and another pot of meat was brought in.

Another pot of meat.

Another pot of meat.

By the end, the stage was filled with cauldrons.

The discussion below also went from noisy discussions to whispers, and then to complete silence.

At this moment, everyone's eyes are on Ji Changze...the meat behind him.

Under their expectant gazes, Ji Changze finally said what they had expected for a long time.

"This meat is a meeting gift brought to you by my officer."

"I don't know what to say to be obedient, so let's be more simple. Today, I am here to promise you that if you listen to me, act according to my instructions, love and protect the country, this will Meat, we eat it once a month.”

Immediately there was a loud cheer from below, completely losing the appearance of the walking zombie before.

Many ordinary people only eat a little bit of minced meat a year. If they could eat meat once a month, they would live like gods.

Ji Changze didn't need to make any tricks or conspiracies. As long as he was given meat, these soldiers would naturally be obedient.

With the meat hanging in front, when he rearranged the soldiers and arranged them, everyone cooperated very well, and each followed the order faster than the other.

Finally, 70,000 people were dispersed, with one officer for every 10,000 people, and one officer for every 1,000 people, and one officer for every 1,000 people, and 10 people for every 1,000 people.

These officer positions were not chosen randomly by Ji Changze, but were good prospects he had sent to find out when he was eyeing these soldiers.

Of course, no matter how good he is, after being ruined by Zhou Quanxiao for so long, he can only be said to be a potential stock, but he can't ask for too much at this time because he is a short man.

Those whose names were called out were a little panicked at first, thinking that they had done something wrong. When they found out that they had become officers, they were shocked by the huge surprise and were speechless.

A dark, tall, thin man due to long-term malnutrition was assigned as the commander of a thousand people. When he heard his name, his face was full of surprise and disbelief, and he trotted forward excitedly. He received a green sign hanging around his neck from his ten thousand commander.

Those were nameplates given by Lord Ji to represent their identities. The ones in Lord Ji's hands were black, red for officers of ten thousand people, green for thousands of people, yellow for hundreds of people, and white for ten people.

Master Ji also said that the name of the owner is engraved on the back of these identity plates. If the people under his jurisdiction have performed meritorious service, then he can also be counted as meritorious service. Naturally, if he makes a mistake, as a superior officer, he will also be punished.

Every month, the person holding the identity plate can use it to receive bonuses.

The content of the bonus depends on the performance of the people under his jurisdiction.

In other words, Ji Changze delegated management rights to other people, letting them manage one layer at a time. In order to be rewarded, they would naturally manage the people below them well.

The soldiers couldn't think of any good things in their hearts. At most, they only thought that the reward would be dozens of pennies or some eggs.

But even this is enough to make them excited.

On the one hand, they are really poor, and on the other hand, it is also because the rewards and nameplates give them a sense of honor.

When the last white nameplate was distributed and the sky was already getting dark, Ji Changze looked at the disappointed expressions of the remaining people and said loudly;

"Those who are not elected don't have to feel sad. Those who get the nameplate must not only be able to fight, but also have the ability to manage the people under them. Every three months, the nameplate will be cleaned, and those who are capable will be placed there. , when the time comes, if the previous person holding the nameplate did not do well, it will naturally be necessary to select a good one from below to replace him. "

The soldiers who were not selected were instantly delighted and excited.

They, can they get a nameplate too?

Ji Changze once again reiterated that the most important prerequisite for getting a nameplate is not that the previous one did not do well, but that he has the ability to replace him.

For a time, everyone below began to think about how they could train and become better at fighting.

After Ji Changze finished speaking, he ordered the person with the red nameplate to divide the meat.

The red nameplate divides the meat evenly and lets the green nameplate take away.

The green nameplate is divided into yellow ones.

Finally, Bai Shi took the meat for ten people and distributed it to ten people including himself.

The superior who was in charge of them emphasized that everyone should get an equal amount of meat, and no one could get more meat based on their status. Since he had just become the superior, naturally no one dared to step on Lord Ji's minefield at this time.

So the distribution of meat went very smoothly.

In the end, most of the people eating meat below gathered together in groups of ten, talking and laughing while eating. After all, in the future, at least for three months, they would be brothers who shared honor and disgrace.

Seeing Ji Changze sit down after he finished speaking, he drank a sip of tea slowly.

The people in the Ji party who followed him as mascots looked at each other.

In fact, they didn't really understand what Lord Ji had just done, and what the meaning of that was, but what did it matter, just praise him.

"Your Excellency is so wise and brave! You are a role model for our generation!"

"Your Excellency has worked hard. Why don't you go have a meal later?"

"Your Excellency loves his soldiers like his own sons, and you are very smart. I admire you."

They praised him in a messy way according to their previous experience. Hu Zifang, who was standing next to him, was confused and didn't react for a long time.

No, Ji Changze's handling method was indeed good, but it was not to the point of being praised like this.

It was as if Ji Changze had done something very, very awesome.

His first reaction was that these Ji party members were flattering Ji Changze.

But he thought about it again.

That's not right. These people are more pretentious than each other. They are all old foxes. How could they do such a simple thing as flattering?

So, Ji Changze must have done something that he didn't see.

What was it?

Hu Zifang didn't show it on the surface, but he was thinking hard in his heart.

Finally, he thought of it!

Ji Changze made this rule not only to motivate those who have the nameplate to work hard and those who don't have the nameplate to work hard.

Another benefit of doing this is that it can prevent those who have the nameplate from gathering people and winning people's hearts.

After all, if you are the boss for only three months, the people below will naturally obey you because you have the power to punish, but if they are loyal, it is still a little worse.

And the one who controls their status is Ji Changze, the superior who has a black nameplate and does not need to change it.

Everyone knows that in the officialdom, sometimes the words of the general officer are not as effective as those of the officials who directly manage themselves.

Because his direct superior can directly manage him, the two meet every day. If he offends the other party, his life will definitely not be easy. Therefore, in the officialdom, many people will hug their direct superiors' thighs. They have hugged their thighs. For the boss of the direct superior, the prestige in their hearts is naturally not as high as their own thighs.

For example, there are a bunch of people around Ji Changze, these people are Ji Party, their boss's ten words are not as effective as Ji Changze's one word.

In the military camp, because the military strength has always been used to determine the status, this situation was more serious than in the officialdom in the past.

But if Ji Changze operates in the military camp, the situation will be very different.

No matter who is in charge of whom on weekdays, the most important thing in their hearts will not be the current boss, because the boss will change, but the boss above is eternal.

Sure enough, he is very shrewd, even for these illiterate soldiers.

Hu Zifang figured out these joints, and then looked at those Ji Party members who surrounded Ji Changze with all kinds of rainbow farts, and the feeling was very different.

Sure enough, I knew that they were definitely not aimless.

These people must have seen it a long time ago, so they flattered Ji Changze like that.

Hu Zifang felt that he had figured it out, and immediately squeezed in.

"That's right, Lord Ji's move of cutting off the firewood from under the cauldron is really brilliant. In this way, even if you can't manage 70,000 people, you can definitely keep them firmly in your hands."

After saying that, he pretended to glance at the people of Ji's party.

Tsk, did you see it? Even if you are cunning enough, I am not bad either. I can see it.

Don't underestimate me, I'm not as stupid as you think.

The people of Ji's party are a little confused.

What? What is cutting off the firewood from under the cauldron?

What is firmly controlled?

Did Lord Ji say this just now? Did he say it? Why didn't they notice it?

After a few people were confused, they looked at each other for a few times and saw from each other's eyes that they really didn't know, so they didn't care about anything.

"That's right, Lord Hu is right."

"Lord, you are really worthy of being a lord, you are so powerful!!"

"That's not even necessary for you to say, Lord, come, have tea."

Anyway, it's right to flatter.

It's always right to praise people.

As for what Hu Zifang said...

Never mind, who knows what he found.

However, their behavior made Hu Zifang more certain.

Sure enough, this group of treacherous Ji party members had seen through it long ago, no wonder they were so hard to flatter him just now.

Tsk, so treacherous.

The Ji party members who were stared at by Hu Zifang several times: "?"

What are you looking at us for? Still with such a strange look.

They politely smiled back at Hu Zifang.

After all, they were the ones who had treated Hu Zifang, so they were still very friendly to Hu Zifang.

Hu Zifan snorted in his heart.

Isn't this smile a typical old fox smile?

Tsk, this group of people, can they say whatever they want? Is it interesting to use these empty tricks and routines all day long?

He looked at Ji Changze who was smiling and drinking tea.

An old fox brings out a bunch of old foxes.

Fortunately, he is smart and clever, otherwise he would not be able to figure out their code words.

Bah! Treacherous!