Han family achievements

Chapter 431 Cruel Means
Cui Jun felt that all the hardships and hardships he had faced since he took office as Pingyuan Prime Minister were not as severe as this moment.

He was restless, wandering, frightened and frightened, unable to calm down.

This was an experience he had never experienced before. He was pacing back and forth with cold sweat on his head.

Wang Cheng also noticed something at this moment, and the more he noticed, he whispered cautiously: "Master Fu, do you really have a big background?"

Cui Jun stopped walking, his face was filled with bitterness, and the corners of his mouth twitched, but he still couldn't make a sound.

But he has a great background. There is no one with a greater background than him in the world!

Cui Jun was worried, speechless and choked, and turned his head to look in the direction of the household.

He had always been very suspicious of the identity of 'Liu Bo', so he did not speculate on it. He also used a lot of connections to go to Luoyang to investigate, but he went back and forth without any certainty.

But seeing Wang Bao's attitude towards Liu Bo today made his heart skip a beat, and he thought of an unbelievable possibility!

This may have been just an idea at first, but as it continued to ferment, he became more and more determined. After becoming determined, it became what it is now,

The thousands of thoughts that filled his mind turned into one sentence: What should he do?
If it is really His Majesty in the palace, he not only threatens with words, but even attempts to imprison him. This is a serious crime for the Yi people!
Cui Jun also thought about more. For example, what did His Majesty want to find out after he has been dormant in Pingyuan County for so long? How much did he find out?
Cui Jun considers himself an upright official, but no matter how upright he is, in the current quagmire of officialdom, he is not clean, very unclean!

Just talk about the 'deals' he had with various local noble families, and if he took out anything casually, if it were more serious, it would be enough to lose his head ten times!
Wang Cheng didn't dare to speak anymore. He followed Cui Jun and looked in the direction of the household. He was curious about who that 'Liu Bo' was, and he actually made the Lord of the House so frightened and confused.

At this moment, Liu Bian's check-in room was flipping through a new account book.

Looking at this ledger, Liu Bian kept shaking his head with emotion.

This is Pingyuan County's true account book since the beginning of the year. Judging from this account book, Pingyuan County's total income is only 100,000 yuan, and its expenditure is 30,000 yuan, and the money in the book is marked as: owed.

In other words, neither income nor expenditure has actually occurred, and they are all in 'arrears'.

In the past three months this year, Pingyuan County has had no income and no expenditure at all!
It’s just off the mark!
"Is this common?"

Liu Bian frowned, and there was a hint of nervousness in his voice.

If this is a common phenomenon, then the surface stability of the eight northern states may collapse at any time!

The local government relies on the local gentry to maintain its rule, while these gentry are knocking on the bones and sucking out the marrow, further draining the government's ruling foundation. This is a terrible endless cycle!
Even if money and food are given to these counties, under the already corrupt system and decadent unspoken rules, the money and food will quickly flow into the hands of large noble families. Not only will it not solve the problem, it will further worsen the situation and promote the situation to deteriorate even more rapidly. And transforming it will accelerate the demise of the dynasty!

Liu Bian frowned deeply, his face as sharp as iron.

The real world gave him another critical blow!
It's night, Chen's house.

Chen Zheng is reading a book. His study is simple and elegant, with no extravagance at all, and no gold or silver.

The lamps and candles not far away had just been replaced, and the incense was also newly replaced.

At this time, the middle-aged man Liu Bian had seen quietly pushed in the door, closed the door, and quietly came not far from Chen Zheng, standing motionless in the darkness, like a sculpture.

I don't know how long it took before Chen Zheng put down the book and said with a smile: "The wisdom of the ancients is really beyond my reach. I have read this book no less than twenty times, and I have new insights every time. The ancients, Don’t deceive me.”

The middle-aged man hurriedly walked out of the darkness and came not far from Chen Zheng. He said with a smile: "He must be my brother. I can fall asleep even if I look at him."

Chen Zheng shook his head and felt helpless towards this third brother of the same clan. He tidied his desk and said, "Forget it, you talked too much and you are angry with me again."

The middle-aged man smiled more and said, "I just like it when my brother talks about me. I won't be angry at anything."

Chen Zheng smiled even more, stood up and came to the small table outside, saying, "I won't talk anymore. I went out for a while. How did it go?"

The middle-aged man waited for Chen Zheng to sit down, then sat opposite him, and said in a low voice with a solemn expression: "Brother, we have done everything. We gave them some money and food, and mainly attacked Gaotang County. Gaotang County belongs to us. As long as people are well prepared, they can defeat the city in an hour at most.”

Chen Zheng took a sip of tea and sighed helplessly: "I originally wanted nothing to happen on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, but Cui Jun didn't know what to do. I had no choice but to take this step."

The middle-aged man said: "I just feel that my brother studies too much and is too kind. In these troubled times, we still need some means."

Chen Zheng glanced at him, his expression a little gloomy, and said: "Hey, in troubled times, kindness is the disaster of annihilation. I don't know this, but I can't bear it."

The middle-aged man had an "I know you" look on his face and said nothing.

After a while, Chen Zheng seemed to have regained his composure and said: "Once Gaotang County is captured by the rebels, Pingyuan County will be severely shaken. Soldiers and horses must be recruited as soon as possible to conquer Gaotang County. When Cui Jun comes again, he will He can't help it."

"Brother is right!" The middle-aged man couldn't help but straighten his chest, his eyes flashing with cold anger.

Last time, Cui Jun pushed and pushed, but this time, he couldn't help it!
There was a smile on Chen Zheng's lips. After such a long time, Cui Jun had completely fallen into his trap. Now, even if Cui Jun knew it was a trap, it would be difficult to turn back!
Once Gaotang County is defeated, Chen Zheng will not only want the land, but also all the official positions in Pingyuan County will be at his disposal!

And what he values ​​most now is the captain of the city gate!

Although the Chen family is not short of money, food, manors, and servants, in the end they are just 'scholars', not officials.

Once the Chengmen School Captain is in their hands, it means that the Chen family, like other big families, has soldiers and horses in their hands, which they can use to attack and retreat to defend.

To put it more bluntly, you can also be like those county guards in previous years. They can respond to the message and lead the troops. Not only to gain fame, but also to be able to be powerful.

The county governor is already a certain king, but if the situation changes and a state is in hand, then he will be the real emperor of the country!
Chen Zheng couldn't help laughing when he thought of this.

Although he only thought about it occasionally, he knew that with his and the Chen family's ability, he couldn't go that far, but who could control what he was thinking and what he was dreaming about at night?

The middle-aged man looked at Chen Zheng's smile and said, "Brother, there is one more thing. Chen Yong is missing."

Chen Zheng didn't pay much attention to the concubine and said, "It's just that he's hanging out in some brothel again. Don't worry about him. It's best to do things right now."

If things are done right now, Pingyuan County will belong to the Chen family!

The middle-aged man didn't like Chen Yong either, so he just said it casually, and then said with a cold look in his eyes: "Eldest brother, and that Liu Bo, Cui Jun is so protective, maybe he is not an ordinary person, I don't know if it will harm the eldest brother. 's plan.

Chen Zhengli also remembered the 'insult' Liu Bian gave him that day, and said with an indifferent expression: "No, once Gaotang County is defeated, Cui Jun will do everything for us, so there is no need for us to do it ourselves."

Just as the middle-aged man was about to nod, Chen Zheng suddenly raised his face. Under the light, a hint of coldness flashed across his face and said, "But he insulted the Chen family, so he should be taught a lesson."

The middle-aged man answered quickly and said: "Brother, I have found out the teahouse where Liu Bo lives. Tonight, I will let him know that our Chen family cannot be insulted!"

Chen Zheng nodded imperceptibly, smiled, and said, "Actually, there's no need to be so anxious. Isn't there still two days left for Gaotang County?"

The middle-aged man immediately understood and said with a smile: "Brother, you are brilliant!"

Chen Zheng stopped talking, drank tea with a smile, and said: "Let all the manors prepare manpower, and those fertile fields must be cultivated well. In troubled times, nothing is as important as food."

The middle-aged man agreed with deep understanding.

As long as they have money and food, let alone a small plain minister, what if they are Qingzhou Mu?
In order to suppress bandits a few years ago, Sima Fang went around begging his grandfather and grandma for food! To outsiders, Pingyuan County looks as peaceful as ever.

But those with a keen mind also noticed the slightest difference.

The most important thing is that Mr. Cui, who was running around for money and food, suddenly became quiet, and the entire government office suddenly fell silent from the restlessness, and the silence was a bit cold.

Wang Cheng no longer had the "arrogance" he unconsciously displayed towards Liu Bian in the past. Now he responded to every request and was extremely respectful.

Therefore, Liu Bianshao used some tricks to see more of the account books that were secret to him, and also gained a deeper understanding of the operations of Pingyuan County.

The next night, in the teahouse, Liu Bian concentrated on writing his diary, summarizing what he had gained and thought during this period.

I don't know how long it took, but Lu Yu quietly walked in and whispered: "Your Majesty."

Liu Bian said without raising his head, "Let them do it."

Lu Yu said: "Your Majesty, Wang Bao is here too."

Liu Bian frowned and said, "Let him follow Zilong and stop making trouble."

"Yes." Lu Yu quietly stepped back.

Liu Bian continued to write engrossed in writing. He had been hit a bit hard recently, and he had to find a way to get back with a critical hit.

And outside, someone was trying to give him a real critical blow.

On the second floor opposite, Zhao Yun, Huangfu Jianchang, and Wang Bao stood side by side, looking through the window at the black figure quietly groping around in the dark.

Wang Bao had a sullen face and shouted: "General Zhonglang, we have found out that they are from the Zhao family. It seems that they are going to set the building on fire!"

Huangfu Jianchang, Zhao Yun didn't react at all, he was unusually calm.

Wang Bao didn't want to miss this opportunity to show off, so he gritted his teeth and said: "General Zhonglang, the last general will order his troops now and destroy the Chen family!"

In an attempt to kill the emperor, not to mention one Chen family, one hundred must be destroyed!
Huangfu Jian glanced at him and said, "Looking at their actions, they probably just wanted to scare them."

There were not many people in the darkness, and there were only a few hidden torches and burning materials. It was obvious that they were not trying to kill people or silence them.

"That won't do either. It's a capital offense to disturb His Majesty!" Wang Bao said solemnly.

Zhao Yun had to speak, and said calmly and calmly: "The Chen family is going to be left to Cui Jun."

Wang Bao suddenly woke up and said: "The general will understand."

While they were talking, the people in the dark had already started throwing torches.

Puff puff

These torches were just thrown in, and before they had time to burn, they were doused by basins of water that had been prepared long ago.

When those people wanted to throw dry firewood, gunpowder, etc., some people rushed out of the teahouse, shouting.

In the darkness, the Chen family suddenly panicked and fled in panic.

Huangfu Jian looked at it and shook his head. He took out an apple from his arms and said, "You dare to take it out with this method. Hey, you really don't know how to live or die..."

Huangfu Jianchang had also experienced all kinds of things on the battlefield. This little trick of throwing a few torches and running away was really ridiculous in his eyes.

Zhao Yun frowned, turned around and went downstairs.

Huangfu Jianchang quickly followed, not forgetting to tell Wang Bao: "Be careful, don't move around, or ruin your majesty's plan."

This hit Wang Bao, he really wanted to teach the Chen family a lesson.

Zhao Yun came to the teahouse, stood in front of Liu Bian's table, and said, "Your Majesty, I think something is wrong. The Chen family should not only use such small means."

Liu Bian had almost finished writing. He looked at the still-dry handwriting, blew lightly and said, "How long until Chen Yong and the others arrive?"

Huangfu Jianchang followed, quickly put the half-eaten apple into his arms, and said, "Your Majesty, I should be back tomorrow afternoon at the latest."

Liu Bian put away the note, stretched and stood up, and said with a smile: "The time is just right."

Huangfu Jianchang also thought it was just right and said: "Your Majesty, Zhou Yu will arrive tomorrow as well."

"Oh,"

Liu Bian smiled unexpectedly, then looked out the dark window, his eyes flashed slightly, and said softly: "It's almost the same."

I've almost finished 'studying' here, and I've almost finished my stay in Pingyuan County. It's time to go south.

Liu Bian slept until noon the next day, washed and ate leisurely, and then rushed to the government office at noon as usual to check in.

"Master, Master!"

Before they had gone far, Wang Bao hurried over, with several well-armored city defense soldiers behind him.

This scene caused the nearby secret guards to quickly rush out and guard behind Liu Bian, blocking the approach of Wang Bao and others.

Wang Bao didn't care about this and said anxiously: "Sir, more than a thousand bandits attacked Gaotang County last night. Now, it is said that thousands of people responded and are going to attack Pingyuan County."

Liu Bian was startled and said: "Gaotang County? Was it conquered by a thousand people?"

The secret guard quietly made way for Wang Bao to approach.

Wang Bao came closer, glanced around, and whispered: "We have checked that the gangsters around Gaotang County have an unpredictable relationship with the Chen family."

Liu Bian raised his eyebrows and smiled suddenly: "Zilong told me last night that things will not be that simple. It turns out that the Chen family still has such skills."

Wang Bao looked calm and said: "Your Majesty, Pingyuan County has no money and food. If you want to conquer the banditry of thousands of people, Pingyuan County does not have enough city defense troops. You must either recruit them or mobilize them from other counties, but you can't do it without money and food!"

Liu Bian didn't understand what was going on. He pondered to himself. Before he could speak, Wang Cheng hurried over and said breathlessly: "Mr. Liu, please rush to the government office as soon as possible."

Liu Bian hummed and said, "I already know. Does Mr. Fu have any countermeasures?"

Wang Cheng saw Wang Bao, but said nothing more, "Chen Zheng is here too."

(End of this chapter)