Three Kingdoms: Cao Cao and Liu Bei help me to ascend the throne

Chapter 140 The least like purgatory, a party of purgatory!
Thunder bursts...

The lamp was extinguished, and the faint moonlight shone through the window and fell on the ground, like hoarfrost sprinkled all over the ground.

Facing Zhang Rang, Liu Bei asked three questions in a row.

—— "Would Zhang Changshi be willing to stay in this bitter cold place in Youzhou?"

——"Don't Zhang Changshi want to take advantage of this plague and make great contributions to impress His Majesty?"

——"Yuan Feng was forced to resign because of his feud with 'Yulin Liulang'. Does Zhang Changshi want to follow in his footsteps?"

hiss.

The first sentence, staying in this bitter cold place, suddenly made Zhang Rang's face darken, with mixed feelings on his cheeks.

True…

He wants to eat and drink here, and he has a good life.

Can…

After all, this is a place of bitter cold, how can it compare with the luxury and luxury in Luoyang City?

The second sentence, made a great contribution, made His Majesty look at him with admiration, and even made him tremble all over when he was standing, and almost fell down.

His Majesty sent him to fight the plague and prevent the plague from spreading...

Previously, he had paid close attention to Liu Bei's every move. Sealing a 'Zhuo County' was considered to be very effective, but...it seems...the trend of the plague's spread has only improved to a certain extent.

In other words, he was still far from completing this errand.

But Liu Bei proposed meritorious service.

In other words, he has a way...or rather, the "Yulin Liulang" behind him has a way.

What is even more terrifying is the third sentence.

——The Yuan family in Runan, Yuan Feng was forced to resign because of his feud with Liu Yu. Is Zhang Changshi going to follow in his footsteps?

Yuan Feng's lesson from the past is close at hand. This Yulin temple master has the ability to bring down the leaders of the scholar-bureaucrat group.

that…

If you think about it with your toes, you know that he must also have the ability to bring down the "Ten Attendants".

He must have the ability to...

And such a person, even if he is not an ally of the eunuch family, at least... he cannot be regarded as an enemy.

"cough…"

"Cough cough cough..."

Zhang Rang coughed continuously.

He hurriedly picked up the teacup and took a sip, his throat moistened a lot, he raised his peripheral vision and glanced at Liu Bei. "Liu Xuande, if you have anything to say, just say it, don't scare our family, our family is not too scared."

"Closing the city..." Liu Bei groaned immediately.

"Seal the city?" Zhang Rang was startled, "Didn't you already seal Zhuo County?"

"It's not Zhuo County, but Zhuo County!" Liu Bei said solemnly. "To completely stop the spread of the plague, one county is far from enough. Only by sealing off Zhuo County can the plague be fundamentally prevented from spreading!"

"You, are you crazy?" Zhang Rang's eyes were round and huge. "Do you know what it means to seal a county?"

Although Zhang Rang is a corrupt official and a traitor, he also knows...

A county is locked down, what does that mean?
Many will lose their livelihood entirely.

The fields outside the city are uncultivated, but inside the city there is a shortage of supplies...

However, in ancient times when there was not enough surplus food in the general family, this was tantamount to...killing for money.

This is going to cause big troubles. Zhang Rang is not afraid of troubles in Zhuo County. It was him who killed him.

"Because I know... what it means to seal a county, so... Liu Bei can only come to Zhang Changshi." Liu Bei's tone became more and more serious.

"How much money and how much food did you spend conferring 'Zhuo County'? We can see what you said. What's the matter... Feng Zhuo County, is your money still rich? Enough to support the expenses of a county?"

Zhang Rang asked repeatedly.

Liu Bei shook his head, as if, even if it was a "huge rich" like the Zhen family, it was already the limit to support the population of a county, and it was impossible to support the population of a county.

All of a sudden, the entire atmosphere here became silent.

"It was Liu Yu who asked you to come to me?" Zhang Rang asked anxiously.

"Yes... yes..." Liu Bei stumbled a lot in answering the two words.

"Hehe..." Zhang Rang laughed, "This Yulin Liulang put our house on fire!"

Chestnuts from the fire...

Zhang Rang felt that if he really sealed a county, it would be tantamount to "picking chestnuts out of the fire", and he himself was simply a fool.

"If you don't give it a try, once the plague spreads, can Zhang Changshi ask His Majesty again?" Liu Bei's tone became more urgent. "Could it be that Zhang Changshi hasn't realized the purpose of His Majesty sending you to Zhuo County to control the plague?"

This…

Zhang Rang frowned...

He is weighing carefully, weighing the pros and cons!
Plague, Your Majesty, Liu Yu, seal the city.

Words one after another kept appearing in his head.

After Liu Bei's reminder, Zhang Rang seemed to realize something.

His Majesty didn't send anyone else...instead he sent him...

Isn't it obvious that he was asked to do "dirty and tiring work"... How could His Majesty order the closure of the city?Doesn't this make the people complain?
So...His Majesty sent him...

He, Zhang Rang, as the head of the ten permanent attendants, is the "traitor" in the eyes of the common people!
It would be great for him to do this!
Not only to prevent the spread of the plague, but also to let the people's grievances vent on him... Your Majesty is still Your Majesty!

in other words…

Zhang Rang has already realized that this is no longer a question of whether Zhuo County can be sealed or not, but that it must be sealed, and what His Majesty means... Zhang Rang has to recite this pot, and if he doesn't recite it, he has to recite it!
With a "gudong", Zhang Rang swallowed a mouthful of saliva, his eyes narrowed into slits.

Finally, his slender orchid fingers were all closed, and his teeth slightly bit his lips.

——"Okay...okay..."

——"Closing the city, the city will be closed! Whoever is afraid of whom!"

Liu Bei was overjoyed and asked anxiously, "Then, where is the sheriff?"

Zhang Rang shook his head directly, "What's the use of telling the sheriff? Does he dare? For this matter, go directly to the governor of Youzhou. The governor doesn't nod? Who dares to seal a state?"

"Inspector?" Liu Bei was taken aback...

Zhang Rang squinted his eyes, "The governor of Youzhou, that person from Danyang in Xuzhou—Tao Qian Tao Gongzu! Although this guy has a strong temper, he is not difficult to deal with."

According to the records of "Three Kingdoms", Tao Qian was originally a Zhusheng, served in prefectures and counties, and was promoted as a maocai. He successively served as county magistrate of Shu and Lu, governor of Youzhou, and Yilang.

And now at this point in time, he is the governor of Youzhou...

Although the governor is just an official with a salary of "six hundred shi", don't compare it with a prefect with a salary of "two thousand shi", even the county magistrate of a large county is far better than him.

嗏

However, the governor "obtained six orders to inspect the state", and supervised the county guards, state ministers, and even princes and kings with a rank of two thousand stones.

The so-called - the lightness of the official means the lightness of caring for one's wealth, and the weight is the dignity of rectifying the official system! "

Supervising the big with the small, and supervising the high with the humble, this is the long-standing supervision system pursued by the big man.

It was for this reason that Zhang Rang directly proposed to go to Tao Qian, the governor of Youzhou, instead of the county governor...

In Youzhou, Tao Qian, the governor of Youzhou, dared to order the closure of the city, and was able to order the closure of the city!
...

...

Nanyang, Jiyang County, Cen's mansion.

The drizzle is continuous, if there is any...

"Lieutenant Wenjun, take this letter and let the patriarchs take a good look at it."

Liu Yu took out a letter...

As a result of the civil engagement, I showed the five patriarchs the letterhead, with the contents of the bamboo slip facing outwards, which allowed the five patriarchs to see clearly.

It's okay if you don't look at it, but when you look at it, the heads of the two families, Du and Jia, who were originally arrogant, staggered and almost fell to the ground.

The other three patriarchs also felt their hearts thump, and their pupils widened.

As for the reason...

They couldn't be more familiar with the handwriting on the bamboo slips. This... This is written by their backer, Da Situ Yang Ci.

There are also the names of the heads of the five families on it. As for the content, the first half is only seven words-Nanyang affairs, refuse to cooperate!
The second half is a detailed discussion on how to prevaricate the new county guard Liu Yu.

Among them, the relationship between them is even written, and the eight words "collude with each other to amass money wantonly" are written on the surface.

wow…

Whoa!
Visible to the naked eye, the five patriarchs all staggered back and took a few strides to gain a firm footing, but their legs and hands trembled freely, trembling violently.

It is no exaggeration to say that if this letter is handed over to His Majesty, it will be enough for them, the 'Yuntai generals', and even Da Situ Yangci... all to lose.

"Gudong!"

The head of the Cen family swallowed subconsciously, and he gasped.

He couldn't figure it out, how...how did this letter end up in Liu Yu's hands?

Could it be that the messenger he sent was... caught by him?

if so…

"call…"

The head of the Cen family exhaled again, even though they were careful enough and never underestimated Liu Yu, but...he was tricked by him.

For a moment... the entire Cen Mansion courtyard became tense.

On the other hand, Liu Yu still didn't speak, the silence made people feel creepy.

"Liu... County Sheriff Liu..."

The head of the Cen family could no longer withstand the endless pressure.

"Governor Liu...you...whatever you say...we...we will do it!"

With these words blurted out, Cen Clan Head seemed to be relieved at last.

The heads of the Du and Jia clans, who were aggressive just now, were leaning on the wall while the other was staggering on their legs... Sweating all over, cold sweat...

It was like they had a nightmare.

The new prefect didn't say a word, but this "silence" was sharper than a knife.

"me…"

After hesitating for a long time, the head of the Du family was speechless, but he finally clasped his fists and turned his head to the side...

It seems a little discouraged and a little helpless.

"Lost! Lost!"

Finally, he yelled out these two words.

Now, the other three patriarchs had no choice but to surrender...

"Cough cough!"

Finally, Liu Yu didn't speak until this time. "The governor of this county will present a memorial to His Majesty, explaining the contribution of the five patriarchs in fighting the plague and donating righteousness to donate money. I also hope that the five patriarchs will join hands with me! It will also reassure Your Majesty!"

Murder?

Cen, Ma, Jia, Du, and Chen's five family heads looked at each other, and once this joint memorial was submitted to the Long case, they would really lose, completely lose, and lose with no room for change.

Can…

Do they have a choice?
Again…

This Liu Yu has [-] minds all over his body, fighting with him... We, the descendants of Yuntai General, are really far behind!

——Open the city gate!

— Open a position!
— Put food and medicine!

...

...

At night in Zhuojun, Youzhou, you can't see your fingers. Liu Bei is waiting in the carriage, and Zhang Rang, the general servant, has entered the residence of Tao Qian, the governor of Youzhou.

Speaking of Tao Qian, he can be regarded as a son of an official. His father once served as the magistrate of Yuyao County, but his father passed away when he was young, and the young Tao Qian was famous in the county for his unrestrained personality.

When he was 14 years old, he used cloth to make a "battle flag" and rode a horse to play war games with a group of children in the village!
Afterwards, Duke Gan, a fellow villager who served as governor of Cangwu, met Tao Qian when he went out.

Seeing Tao Qian's extraordinary appearance, he called him into the car and talked with him. He felt that this man had a strange appearance, but he was quite ambitious, so he married his daughter to Tao Qian...

With the help of his father-in-law, Tao Qian started his career as an official.

Only a year ago, he became the governor of Youzhou, and he has not made any political achievements.

never thought...

The plague broke out in Zhuo County, and even the whole Zhuo County felt a little uncontrollable.

Today's Tao Qian is still at a loss.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Rang, the Zhongchang servant, found him.

Tao Qian personally poured a pot of wine for Zhang Rang, and said: "At the beginning, when I served as county magistrates of Shu County and Lu County successively, it was my father-in-law who found Zhang Changshi. Inspector, on this point, I want to thank Zhongchang Attendant."

Tao Qian's father-in-law Gan Gong, his wife is the eunuch's daughter, that's why...Gan Gong is connected with the eunuch group, but... Tao Qian looks down on these eunuchs.

certainly…

If you don't like it, you can't look down on it, but on the surface it looks very kind.

Zhang Rang took a sip of tea before saying, "Our family came here by His Majesty's order!"

Tao Qian narrowed his eyes and asked, "I don't know, Your Majesty?"

"The city of Zhuojun is closed!" Before Tao Qian could finish asking, Zhang Rang said bluntly.

Tao Qian was stunned, and then he said in shock: "I heard that Liu Bei, the newly promoted county magistrate of Zhuo County, sealed off the entire Zhuo County, which brought the plague under certain control. If a county is sealed...then..."

Obviously... it's still a big deal.

"Do you think our family is joking with you?"

Zhang Rang looked at him coldly.

Tao Qian couldn't help but said: "Since Zhang Changshi said that, how dare I take it as a joke? It's just that this matter is too big...how many people are involved, not to mention a county, how many county towns, even if the city is to be closed...you have to go county by county Seal? Or seal the entire county? All of these have to be discussed by the court... The most difficult thing is the supply of food and medicinal materials... The city is sealed, what about the cultivated land? What about the medicinal materials? What do the people do when they run out of food? Mutiny What should I do?"

Tao Qian has a good hand in internal affairs, especially in farming.

Since he served as the governor of Youzhou, the most outstanding thing he has done is to expand the arable land in Youzhou by [-]%, and now it is the busy farming season in May...how can the city be closed?

even if it is...

Tao Qian also knew that perhaps sealing the entire Zhuo County would have a certain positive impact on the spread of the plague.

But Zhang Rang's intention was very firm.

"Let's say it again, His Majesty can't say this clearly, but since His Majesty sent our family here, it is to let our family control the plague. As for whether there is food or not, that is not our family's concern!"

This…

Tao Qian frowned.

Zhang Rang's heart shuddered, "If it can't be done, our family will naturally not be able to explain to His Majesty, but even if our family is punished, we will pull some backs. Tao Gongzu, our family knows... You have always criticized us eunuchs, but this matter Son, it is to control the plague in the northern border of the Han Dynasty, once the plague sweeps the entire Youzhou and the northern border...do you and I have any good fruit to eat?"

"To put it mildly, what His Majesty wants is the relief of the plague, not the land of these untouchables and officials, hehe, do you think our family doesn't know? It's true that these lands are planted with crops, but are these crops your Majesty's? Or those wealthy, Clan? Our family can’t go against the holy will just to protect the motherland!”

Hey…

Needless to say, what Zhang Rang said was actually well-founded and convincing.

...Tao Qian's expression became uncertain.

"This is a big deal. There are nearly 700,000 people in Zhuo County. Even if the city is really ordered to be closed? Can it be closed for one or two days, maybe one or two months? The feet grow on their bodies, and they have nothing to eat , will naturally find ways to get out of the city, besides...there are many ways to get out of the city! Really...do you really...just take this step to fight the plague?"

Zhang Rang sneered: "They want to go out of the city? What do you, the governor of Youzhou, do to eat? What His Majesty asked our family to do is to prevent the spread of the plague. What does it matter to our family whether these people have food? If they dare to go out of the city, why don't they eat?" It's not easy, if one comes out and beats the disabled, whoever is disobedient will be liquidated together with his family, and we don't care about anything else, this Zhuo County must be sealed off!"

"..." Tao Qian was a little confused.

He didn't expect Zhang Rang to propose such an iron fist!
On one side are the common people, and on the other side are Zhang Rang... no, it is the holy will represented by Zhang Rang, which makes him... in a dilemma.

"How about... Zhang Changshi asks His Majesty for an imperial edict? In this way... the lower officials will have more confidence."

Tao Qian suggested.

Zhang Rang still looked at Tao Qian coldly, with a bit of disdain in his eyes. "Tao Gongzu, Tao Gongzu, you are also in your forties. Are you really stupid? Or fake stupid?"

"Can Your Majesty issue an edict on this matter? Can Your Majesty bear such infamy? The reason why His Majesty sent our family here is to make our family be this villain! Hehe, our family has committed a heinous crime among the people. What's the harm in being a villain once? You have to do it if you do it, and you have to do it if you don't do it. Don't force our family to be angry. Our family is angry, but the six relatives don't recognize it, and I am afraid of it!"

Tao Qian was suddenly taken aback...

It was the first time he was bluffed by a eunuch.

He shook his head helplessly.

"Well, since Zhang Changshi has talked about this, although I, Tao Qian, may not be on your side, I still admire you for bearing this infamy for His Majesty! I won't say anything else, and I will discuss it tomorrow. Order the prefect of Zhuojun to close the city... However, all military officials can only be dispatched by Zhang Changshi."

Ah…

Ha ha…

Hearing Tao Qian's words, Zhang Rang squinted his eyes and smiled, "You Tao Gongzu has been an official for so many years, and you haven't learned anything else, but this method of being wise and protecting yourself is very well learned!"

Ha ha…

Tao Qian also smiled slightly, "Compared to Zhang Changshi, the lower official is still a small witch."

A quarter of an hour later, Zhang Rang walked out of the government office here.

Liu Bei hurriedly surrounded him, "Is it done?"

Zhang Rang didn't answer, but motioned for Liu Bei to get on the carriage.

Sitting in the carriage, he pondered for a long time.

Just now he opened his mouth: "Liu Xuande, give our family a solid background, did Liu Yu tell you how long this Zhuo County needs to be sealed?"

When he said this, Zhang Rang's face was as cold as ice.

Naturally, he also knew that in the early stage, perhaps with iron blood and iron fist... the people of these Zhuo County would not dare to go one step further because of fear.

Can…

As time goes by... How long can this iron blood and iron fist last?

The people are hungry, and they are bound to mutiny... Zhang Rang must know how long he needs to seal the city.

"This…"

Liu Bei paused, "Brother Liu said it was three months..."

"Three months?" Zhang Rang frowned, "Liu Xuande...are you making fun of our family?"

Zhang Rang's emotions suddenly became agitated, "Three months, I'm afraid that the government will disappear due to the riots of the people, and you and I will be crushed into mud!"

Uh…

Liu Bei didn't think of this, but after a moment of astonishment, his tone became serious again.

"Brother Liu trusts me, if I want to persist for three months, I...I must persist for three months!"

"You're crazy, and your brother Liu is also crazy, so our family has to go crazy with you!" Zhang Rang was completely speechless, and he kept panting. "Liu Xuande, our family... we tell you, you'd better... solve the problem within three months, otherwise... otherwise..."

Zhang Rang originally wanted to say, otherwise... the same thing as death.

But... the words came to his lips, but he swallowed them back.

He felt that it was a great loss to die with Liu Bei, no matter how bad it was, he had to die with Liu Yu, right?

Then his identity... only matches.

"Alas..." Finally, after staring deeply at Liu Bei, Zhang Rang let out a sigh of "Alas!"
This sigh contained infinite worry and helplessness.

...

...

Zhuojun... No one thought that the closure of the city was for real.

When the magistrate of Zhuojun heard this order from Tao Qian, the governor of Youzhou, he was stunned.

The point is, being dumb is being dumb.

But... he still has to be sealed.

This is the helplessness of the county guard. The governor's position is not big, but because he is responsible for supervising the prefect.

In the local political system of the Han Dynasty, it has an unprecedented position.

Now... just seal it!
Of course... when I heard that the city was closed, the entire Zhuo County was blown up, and even the officials in many places were obedient and obedient.

Because of the lockdown...

The involvement was too great, and many interests would naturally be involved, but... they didn't expect that Zhang Rang, the head of the ten permanent attendants, was simply crazy.

The hand raised the knife and fell... Immediately cut off the heads of several officials who "followed the yang and violated the yin".

this time...

The entire Zhuo County is quiet, and no one dares to say one thing on the surface and another behind the scenes...

And since Zhang Rang took charge of the military power, he could do things without "benevolence, righteousness and morality", and directly sent people to burn down the houses of those who were infected with the plague if they didn't go to the concentration area!
If anyone is disobedient and dares to wander around, just discount their legs...

Those who tried to get out of the city in vain were even pressed down by Zhang Rang and rubbed on the ground... This is called killing chickens to scare monkeys!
Also because of Zhang Rang.

After a flurry of chaos in Zhuojun County, a rare silence was ushered in...

There is no one in the streets and alleys of Zhuojun...

Countless officials stomped their feet anxiously in the official office. This...these people are not moving, what about the food?
And the end result is...

Each household is allowed to put some coins in front of the door, and the merchants can take the coins in front of each household and leave the corresponding food. Of course... this cannot solve the practical problem at all.

Whether the common people have surplus food or surplus money...not much!

Zhuojun under the silence...

Not to mention sticking to it for three months, even sticking to it for ten days is a huge problem.

The entire Zhuo County seemed to have turned into a silent prison for a while, but countless people could only hide in their own homes. Once the plague was found, they would be sent to the concentration area!
Can…

Under the eaves, in the house, there are complaints everywhere, and the cry of children is everywhere!
here…

As if, it has become the least purgatory of purgatory!
...

...

(End of this chapter)