Kai Fu Han

Chapter 105
On April [-]th, Zhizhou Yamen.

Guo Chengyan, the magistrate of Dengzhou, organized officials from Dengzhou and Penglai counties to discuss matters in the lobby of the Dengzhou Yamen.

"Some people from the Jin Kingdom came to Dengzhou to investigate the situation of Liujiabao. I think everyone already knows about it."

"Liujiabao caused disasters in Qizhou and moved to Dengzhou. We kindly took them in, but we didn't expect these people's 'dogs can't change to eat shit', and even encouraged the Dengzhou navy to rebel against the imperial court."

Having said this, Guo Chengyan cupped his hands toward Jinan in the west.

"The attack on the Jin Kingdom's warships last year is now known to the Jin Kingdom. I think they will be attacked by the Jin Kingdom soon. I have called you here today to discuss how we in Dengzhou should deal with this matter."

Just after Guo Chengyan finished speaking, Dengzhou Tongzhi said:

"We have already entertained spies from the Kingdom of Jin before. I think they know the attitude of our Dengzhou officials when they come to the Kingdom of Jin."

"Yes, our emperor of Qi State is now canonized by the Jin State. The Jin State did this to achieve their goal of ruling the Han Dynasty with the Han Dynasty. So even if they attack Liujiabao this time, it will have no impact on our Dengzhou government." Deng The state judge then expressed his opinion.

Guo Chengyan looked at the people below and saw that they didn't seem to care much about this matter.

"Just now, a servant reported that Liujiabao dispatched a ship. I heard that a Jin warship was discovered in the northern sea. This should be the one that docked in Laizhou before, and came here to test it. It is estimated that a large number of Jin State naval forces should be here soon. It will come."

"I came to you to discuss what we should do if Liu Xinqi accepts the challenge?"

"Also, if Liu Xinqi jumps over the wall and attacks us first, how should we respond?"

No one had much reaction to Guo Chengyan's first question, but after hearing the second question, someone finally couldn't help but ask.

"Probably not. After all, since Liu Xinqi brought his people to Dengzhou, we in Dengzhou did not take the initiative to provoke him. Instead, he was ungrateful and encouraged the navy to rebel first. Now even if the Jin Kingdom wants to attack him, he will not Take advantage of us to vent our anger."

Another said:
"Besides, he, Liu Xinqi, may not know that their Liujia Fort is about to face an attack by the Jin Kingdom Navy."

"Let's just watch the fire from the other side. Anyway, the Kingdom of Jin always needs people to manage the people."

……

Listening to the various speeches below, no one had a sense of crisis or got to the point.

"The Kingdom of Jin needs someone to help them manage the Han people, but it doesn't have to be us."

Guo Chengyan said.

The scene was quiet for a while, then Dengzhou Zhizhou spoke first.

"This..., what should we do?"

"I'm not sure yet. Captain Luo, you know Liu Xinqi best among us. Do you have any suggestions?"

Guo Chengyan said to Luo Cheng.

From the beginning of the discussion, Luo Chengyan only listened but did not expect that Guo Chengyan would call him by name to speak. He then stood up, bowed and saluted before replying.

"Master Guo, I have only dealt with him a few times, and I don't know him very well. Just like this time, I never thought that he would instigate the Dengzhou Navy to rebel, so there is nothing good for me. suggestions.”

"Oh, since there are no good suggestions, you should go back first, think about it carefully when you go home, and come back to discuss it tomorrow. Everyone will have their own ideas by then." Guo Chengyan arranged.

"Yes, my lord."

After everyone stood up, saluted and responded, they went out one after another.

After Luo Cheng went out, he stood outside the Zhizhou Yamen and waited for Wu Xinggong, the magistrate of Penglai County, intending to discuss with him and unify the tone so that he could respond tomorrow.Unexpectedly, after waiting for half an hour, he still did not come out of the Zhizhou Yamen. Looking back carefully, he found that among the officials who had just left, there were no Dengzhou Tongzhi, judge and Penglai County Magistrate.

After some thought, he stopped waiting and walked home.

After returning to the study, he called the housekeeper Xu Zhong.

"Go and contact the spies buried in the Zhizhou Yamen and Penglai County Yamen, and find out whether the Zhizhou, Tongzhi, Judge, Penglai County Magistrate and others held secret meetings again during the period before my return. It is best to find out the contents of the secret meetings. "

……

At Youshi, Xu Zhong came to Luo Cheng's study and reported to him.

"After the first meeting, most of the officials went home, but Zhizhou arranged for a few servants to stop the Tongzhi, judge and Penglai county magistrate. Our spy was one of the servants. Feeling something strange, he deliberately I went in for the tea guy once and overheard a few conversations."

"What were they talking about?" Luo Cheng asked.

"When the spies came in, Wu Xinggong, the magistrate of Penglai County, was talking. He said: '...the county government servants are all under Luo Cheng. It is difficult to mobilize them, and they may alert others. Moreover, there is a Liujiabao with nearly a thousand people in Baishiwan. People also need to be taken into consideration." Then Dengzhou Tongzhi said: "Then the manpower is insufficient, we need to recruit more people, which may require most of the income to be distributed to other gentry." Then Wu Cheng, the Zhizhou magistrate, said He said: "Interests are secondary, and it is more important to show our attitude to Jin Guo...'. The spies later did not hear it." Xu Zhonghui reported.

"that is all?"

"That's all. The spies dare not ask other servants for fear of exposing themselves."

"Well, what do you think?" Luo Cheng asked Xu Zhong.

"Based on what you discussed at Zhizhou Yamen in the morning, Zhizhou asked you specifically, plus the few words the spies heard. I think Zhizhou may be organizing something, and this matter needs to be avoided by you, and it also involves the Liu family in Baishiwan. Fort." Xu Zhong thought about it and replied.

Luo Cheng lowered his head and pondered, stroking his beard with his right hand, pondering the information in the words returned by the spies.

"Snatch the enemy... take care of... manpower... make a statement... Wu Chengyan is planning to attack Liujiabao."

"However, the power that Dengzhou Prefecture can organize cannot compete with Liujiabao. Those warriors in Liujiabao can all 'fight one against a hundred'." Xu Zhong asked doubtfully.

"Normally, it is indeed impossible to compete, but if Liujiabao's main force is dispatched to challenge the Jin Kingdom Navy, it may not be possible for those who stay in Dengzhou." Luo Chenglai became more and more sure of his guess.

"That makes sense. Do we need to notify Liu Jiabao?"

Luo Cheng stood up and walked back and forth in the study. After a while, he ordered Xu Zhong:
"Go find the young master and ask him to come to the study to meet me."

"it is good."

After Xu Zhong responded, he planned to go out and call Luo Gao over.

"Wait a minute. On the way here, I might inadvertently reveal to him that 'a spy has sent me a message.'" Luo Cheng added again.

"Understood, I'll go right away?"

"Go."

After Xu Zhong went out, Luo Cheng picked up a brush and wrote a sentence on a piece of paper:

"The governor of Dengzhou organized troops to attack Liujiabao when the main force of Liujiabao challenged the Jin Navy."

Then put the note in the middle of the desk, press the note with a paperweight, and deliberately expose the next five characters.

(End of this chapter)