Ji Han Liu Zhang

In Yizhou, a grand banquet was being held in the Prefectural Mufu Mansion. All civil and military officials from the Prefectural Mufu Mansion, as well as current officials from Shu County and Chengdu, attended the banquet.

While Liu Zhang was still in Hanzhong, the person who held this banquet was Yizhou Governor Shi Wangshang. Apart from him, no one else had the authority to gather the civil and military forces of Yizhou and hold a grand banquet in the governor's mansion. banquet.

The theme of this banquet was to celebrate the victory of Liu Zhang, the shepherd of Yizhou, in conquering Hanzhong and returning Hanzhong from the hands of the rice thief Zhang Lu back to the control of Yizhou.

Therefore, the atmosphere of the banquet was harmonious and cheerful. Chen Shi, the governor of Shu County, Dong He, the commander of Chengdu, Wang Lian of Jin Cao, Gao Rou of Fa Cao and others all toasted to Wang Shang, who was the leader, and one to Wang Shang who was in charge of Shu on behalf of Liu Zhang. Congratulations on the victory in Hanzhong, and congratulations to Wang Shang for taking charge of the overall situation and making the Shu land free from disturbances.

Changshi Wang Shang didn't put on any airs. He drank a glass of wine with everyone who came to toast one by one, and chatted for a while with a harmonious expression. However, when he saw Fa Cao Gaorou coming to toast, his expression turned slightly There was a pause, but his expression did not change for long before he put on a smile and accepted Gao Rou's congratulatory wine.

Wang Shang looked at Gao Rou's young but resolute face, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart. Gao Rou was a talented person who enforced the law fairly and had no flaws in his actions. It was no wonder that Liu Zhang promoted him to be a legal officer, but there was only one thing, Gao Rou. Rou's law enforcement is too strict. No matter whether he is a powerful scholar or a commoner, as long as he violates the law, he will be hit hard by Gao Rou. There is no mercy.

In the past few days, many wealthy and powerful families in Shu County have been attacked by Gao Rou. Of course, this is not because Gao Rou deliberately attacked the powerful, but because the wealthy and powerful families in Shu County have always been tolerated in the past and acted without scruples. Where the law was violated, but in the past, law enforcement officials had many connections with the rich and powerful families of Shu County, so they would give a wide berth to the cases where the rich and powerful families broke the law. They would only deal with it harshly if it was really unjustifiable and caused public dissatisfaction.

Therefore, the powerful children of the Shu County family behaved as before. Gao Rou was beaten by the strict law enforcement and was in pain. Gao Rou would hold on to him for the slightest mistake. If he made a big mistake, it would lead to misfortune for the family. , as for asking someone to intercede, Gao Rou even arrested the intercessor and detained him for interfering with the criminal law.

The powerful families in Shu County are closely related, and their marriages are often connected. Wang Shang naturally has some twists and turns with these powerful families. Therefore, many powerful families who were hit by Gao Rou came to Wang Shang, hoping that Wang Shang would Liu Zhang can be persuaded to depose Gao Rou, otherwise life will be difficult.

Many people requested Wang Shang, including some scholars who had a good relationship with Wang Shang. Wang Shang was very embarrassed. Firstly, Gao Rou's post of legal officer was decided by Liu Zhang, and he had no intention of commenting. Secondly, Gao Rou was only enforcing the law. It is strict, but there is no improper enforcement of the law. The three powerful families suffered because they violated the law. It is natural for them to be punished for their mistakes.

When Gao Rou had made no mistakes and his work results were good, Wang Shang did not want to propose the removal of Gao Rou from the post of Dacao. However, too many Shu scholars came to intercede, which disturbed him and made him feel very bad. Therefore, he loves and hates Gao Rou. Gao Rou does a good job, and he, as a long history man, naturally likes her. However, Gao Rou's law enforcement is too strict and attracts too much criticism, which bothers him.

After Gao Rou toasted, he left in front of Wang Shang and sat down again. Seeing Gao Rou leaving, Wang Shang sighed in his heart. He guessed that maybe it was because Gao Rou enforced the law harshly and the law was merciless that Liu Zhang appointed him Gao Rou served as the Dharma Cao, and took good care of the powerful Shu family who were accustomed to being arrogant and indulgent.

Gao Rou's origin was also the same. Wang Shang had a good memory. He instantly thought of Gao Rou's place of origin. She was from Yuxian County, Chenliu County. She had no connection with the powerful Yizhou family and naturally acted without scruples. When enforcing the law, There is no need to consider any favors. After all, Gao Rou, who is from Zhongzhou, naturally has no relatives in Shu.

Just like Dong He, the Ling of Chengdu, Wang Shang had a clear idea. He thought of Dong He, the Ling of Chengdu. Dong He, as a native of Zhijiang, Nanjun, entered Shu from Nanjun and held the position of Ling of Chengdu. Dong He used his frugal behavior to serve as the Ling of Chengdu. The rich and powerful families in Shu set an example, wore rough clothing and vegetarian food, and followed etiquette as their code of conduct, which greatly changed the luxury atmosphere in Chengdu. The powerful families in Shu were afraid of Dong He and did not dare to offend him.

'The way of checks and balances, the power of emperors. 'Although Liu Zhang appointed scholars from Shu, such as Huang Quan and Peng Yi, but at the same time vigorously promoted scholars from other states, such as Wang Lian and Gao Rou, Wang Shang naturally knew Liu Zhang's plan. This was a kind of monarch's power strategy. , Don't let a certain civil and military faction dominate the account and threaten the monarch's position.

Wang Shang shook his head when he thought of this. His Ming Gong Liu Zhang didn't seem to deliberately suppress the local scholars in Shu, nor did he specifically promote people from other states. They all used their talents according to their talents. Du Neng, he probably thought too much and had dark thoughts. Ming Gong Liu Zhang thought he was not that kind of person.

This grand banquet ended when the moon was above the willow trees. There was no joy in the night. The civil and military officials of Yizhou dispersed one after another and drove away in carriages and horses that matched their respective identities.
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Above average.

In Shangyong's prison, Wenpin was counting the days. It had been a while since he was defeated and imprisoned. The prison was not a good place. He ate moldy and rotten food and slept on nothing more than a straw mat. In addition to the autumn rain, Continuously, the roof of the prison was leaking, and the ground of the prison was seeping. The whole prison only had a rotten and unpleasant smell. As soon as it entered through the nostrils, it went straight to the Tianling Cap, making people dizzy.

But even in such a harsh environment, Wenpin was as happy as ever. He did not let these external objects affect his thoughts, nor did he become violent and irritable because of the rotten food or poor living environment. , or was struck by low self-esteem, he just sat quietly every day, patiently waiting for fate to come and judge.

With a clang, the door to the outside of the prison was opened. Wenpin knew that the jailer serving food was coming, and just as Wenpin expected, it was indeed the jailer serving food who was approaching. The jailer was carrying a wooden bucket with food in it. The rice porridge was as thin as water, and the smell was not very good. The jailer carrying the bucket held the bucket in one hand and held his nose in the other.

"Nah, huh, huh." When the jailer arrived in front of Wenpin's cell, he said a dog-calling voice, and used Wenpin and Wensan in the cell as if they were puppies. With such a contemptuous and insulting attitude from the jailer, the normally grumpy Wen San would fly into a rage, grabbing the wooden pillars of the cell and shouting curses at the jailer. But at this time, Wen San just sat there blankly, not reacting at all. The living environment was terrible. , moldy and rotten food, and a small space, Wen San's violent temperament has long been wiped out, leaving only numbness.

Seeing that the two people in the cell did not respond, the jailer lost interest in provoking their anger. He just took two bowls of rice porridge and put them down, and cursed unmercifully: "You are two bastards who are losing money. I thought that both of you were worthless." Wei, a village chief, can be exchanged for a few hundred gold at least... I didn't expect that you two are so popular. The people in Jingzhou knew that you were still alive, but they didn't pay to ransom you, so you were left here. He was detained and wasting Nai Gong’s rice every day.”

Hearing this, Wen San moved, and he refuted: "Impossible. If General Cai Zhonglang knew that we were still alive, he would spend money to redeem us. You guys are trying to lie to us."

Wen San's words were weak. After all, he was weak after being imprisoned for a long time, but his tone was very firm. His brother Wenpin sacrificed his horse to Cai Hao when the Jingzhou army was lying in wait, saving Cai Hao's life. , if Cai Mao knew that Wenpin was still alive, he would have redeemed Wenpin even for a thousand pieces of gold. This was a life-saving grace.

"I lied to you. Does Mr. Nai need to lie to you, a prisoner?" The jailer suddenly became interested when he saw Wen San's retort. It was like a cat playing with a mouse: "My family leader said it clearly to your family's envoy, saying There is a captain of the defeated army who is still alive, but no one came after the envoy left, and no one came to discuss the ransom. Isn't this because you two are so popular that no one is willing to spend money? I will redeem you and leave you here to die."

Speaking of this, the jailer looked up to the sky and sighed: "Unfortunately, we thought you two were a rare commodity and could be sold for a good price. Now that you are fine, I don't know how long we will have to support you... Speaking of where your family lives, we can send you a Write this letter to your family, and your family can pay for the ransom. As long as you pay, we will let you go."

Wen San was silent in response. When he saw that the jailer's words were true and not fake, he couldn't help but fell into confusion. Wen Pin was Cai Mao's savior. How could Cai Mao ignore Wen Pin? This was not in line with common sense and human nature.

Wen San's eyes lit up when he thought of this. He felt that maybe Cai Mao felt it was too shameful to spend money to redeem Wen Pin and him, so he planned to capture Shangyong to rescue the two of them. This must be the reason. Wen San felt a little relieved. tone.

But the jailer's next words broke Wen San's imagination. He pointed at Wenpin and said, "But you two are not very popular. It's natural that no one would pay for redemption. If it weren't for Captain Wen who persuaded Cai Mao to march, Cai Hao would have You won't fall into our ambush. I mentioned that you are the benefactor of our Shen family! We, the Shen family, must thank you very much."

"Fart." Wen San broke his guard and cursed: "Don't talk nonsense, you guys. When did my brother in the family persuade General Cai Zhonglang to march..."

It was rare for Wenpin to show doubts here, and his face no longer looked calm.

The jailer looked at Wen San with a pitiful expression. He thought about Wen San's words and said: "I am talking nonsense. Our Shen family's spies have found out clearly. Everyone in Fangling is saying that it is because Wen Duwei is greedy for merit." , which led to the ambush of the Jing soldiers. Now I don’t know how many Jingzhou soldiers are resentful of you two." After saying this, the jailer stopped answering and strode away.

Wen San seemed to have lost all his strength. He slumped on the ground, looking horrified. He thought of the possibility of what the jailer said, that is, Cai Mao was taking the blame and putting the blame on his brother Wen Pin. .

Wen San's face was filled with anger and unwillingness, and he shouted in a low voice: "Brother, Cai Zhonglang will..."

Wenpin shook his head silently. He knew what Wensan wanted to say. Wensan could deduce what kind of ridiculous things Cai Hao had done, and he could also deduce it. Cai Hao regarded him as a scapegoat and poured dirt on him. Water is used to wash away one's sins.

Wenpin, who had complex emotions on his face, looked towards the small window of the prison, which was about a foot away, and saw a flying bird landing on the window sill, combing its feathers, and then fluttered its wings and left, carefree, free, and the sky was high. Birds fly.

"Leave it to fate." Wenpin said to Wensan. Now they are not only prisoners of the Shen family, but also criminals in Jingzhou. Even if they return to Jingzhou, they will still be imprisoned. Besides, it is still unclear whether they can return to Jingzhou. At this time We can only resign ourselves to fate and live a life of ups and downs.

Wenpin picked up a bowl of rice porridge and handed it to Wen San, whose face was as dark as water: "Eat it, and live first." (End of this chapter)