Thousand-year-old family: its rise began with Shang Yang’s reforms

Chapter 351 Dong Zhuo: How can I let others flatter me?

There is never a shortage of such people in the world. They always think that what they have done will not be discovered, even if they have not done such things.

They will go further and think that even if they have done these things, as long as they can threaten and prevent these things from being discovered, it means they have not done these things.

Zhang Ze is one of such people.

Zhang Ze looked at the person in front of him with a ferocious expression. The person was wearing tattered clothes and was skinny.

"Did you hear that clearly?"

A hint of disdain flashed across his face: "No matter who asks, I will return the land to you."

"If you dare to slander me, you should know what will happen, right?"

A look of embarrassment and anger flashed across the face of the farmer in front of him, but in the end he didn't know what to say and could only swallow his anger.

He is the uncle of one of the Ten Attendants of the current dynasty. Even if the court has issued an order saying that King An has arrived and those treacherous officials dare not do these things, he still dares not take a step because he is afraid.

Will King An help me?
Will Zhang Rang abandon his uncle?
These are all questions.

As the sky gradually darkened, he returned to his home.

There was nothing left to sell in the house, and my sick mother was paralyzed in bed, breathing more than she was breathing out.

He sat there silently, the setting sun outside the house continued to fall on the ground and shine into the house.

Why is life so difficult?

He smiled, stood up his stiff body, and then walked to the bed and kowtowed to his mother: "Mom, it's my son who is incompetent."

"You've suffered a lot following me in this life."

"In the next life, I will serve you like a slave."

The Duqu County Government Office welcomed several distinguished guests, and the county magistrate of Duqu County Government almost ran out at full speed to greet these distinguished guests.

Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Chen Zhulou stood silently in front of the county government office, wondering what they were thinking.

After the county magistrate welcomed the three of them into the yamen, Cao Cao asked about the results of the investigation into the incident. The result was simple: an ordinary powerless citizen who was forced to live.

No one can deny that the Han Dynasty governed the country with filial piety.

So when news came from Duqu that someone had killed his mother and then committed suicide in front of his door, and that the case involved Zhang Rang, the head of the Ten Attendants of the time and the one who was deeply loved by the emperor, the whole court was shocked.

Therefore, Chen Zhulou, the prince of An State, and Cao Cao, the captain of the lower army, were sent here to investigate the matter.

There was almost no need to investigate the matter. After they arrived here, the whole situation of the matter was laid out in front of them like an opened scroll.

After finishing his explanation, Magistrate Duqu added cautiously, "Zhang Ze has been detained, but he is still asking to see Chang Shi Zhang, and he claims that he is Chang Shi Zhang's uncle."

"He is just a pariah. If he dies, he dies."

He lowered his head. Zhang Ze had even more unpleasant things to say, but he didn't dare to say them in front of these people.

Chen Zhulou's expression had turned gloomy, but Cao Cao was not surprised.

When he ordered the execution of his uncle, the attendant, the damned man also threatened him in such a harsh voice before his death.

And the result is obvious.

He is still alive.

That man had been killed in battle and became one of his medals of honor.

Cao Cao put the document on the table, glanced at the county magistrate and said, "Take the man into custody. We will take him to Chang'an City. You don't need to worry about this."

"That family has passed away, but are there any other relatives?"

The county magistrate shook his head slightly, smiled bitterly and said, "That person has no relatives. If he did, he would not do such a thing."

Chen Zhulou, who had been silent the whole time, spoke up at this moment. He looked at the county magistrate and asked softly, "Why wouldn't you do such a thing if you have a relative?"

When the three of them came, the county magistrate only knew that the man sitting in the middle was the former Chang'an Commander and current one of the Eight Commandants of Xiyuan. He did not know Chen Zhulou's identity, so after carefully glancing at Cao Cao's expression, he opened his mouth to answer.

"Having people of the same clan means having something to worry about and rely on. If I borrow a little from here and there, I can still survive."

"In a situation like this, people usually have no ties to the world, so they can die peacefully."

Chen Zhulou nodded slightly: "I appreciate your advice."

The wind in Duqu is very cold.

This was Chen Zhulou's first feeling when he walked out of the county government office, rode on his horse, and prepared to set off back with Cao Cao and others.

Cao Cao and Liu Bei were both riding on horses, following behind him. Their expressions were not as gloomy as Chen Zhulou's.

Although Chen Zhulou left Guandu City once when he was ten years old, he had not seen much suffering in the world because his uncle did not dare to let him see it either.

The wind was blowing noisily.

Originally, Liu Bei and Chen Zhulou were not here to escort the people, but Chen Zhulou insisted on joining in the fun.

"Brother Chen, don't think too much."

After a long silence, Cao Cao finally uttered these words which were not really comforting.

"Now that King An is the Prime Minister, the world will surely return to its former stability and harmony. These treacherous people will no longer be able to disrupt the government and oppress the people."

Chen Zhulou still didn't speak.

He just said calmly: "Brother Cao, don't you think this incident is too coincidental and too sudden?"

Chen Zhulou narrowed his eyes and said, "My father has just ascended to the position of Prime Minister. The Ten Eunuchs and the aristocratic families are all trying to cover up their past mistakes. At this time, the uncle of Zhang Rang, the head of the Ten Eunuchs, caused this man to die of grief and anger."

"And the one who came to detain me is you, with whom I have a personal relationship."

He smiled faintly: "After we arrived, the county magistrate directly handed the scroll to you and me. From the time you and I arrived in Duqu County to now when you and I left, how long did it take?"

"Two hours?"

Cao Cao's expression was stern, and at this time he also frowned and thought: "Could this be false?"

"Were they prepared?"

"Zhang Ze was framed?"

Chen Zhulou shook his head: "No, Zhang Ze must not have been framed, and what he did must be true."

He just frowned and whispered: "It's too much of a coincidence."

"I'm afraid someone else is involved in this."

Cao Cao remained silent: "I'm afraid he wants to sow discord between the Ten Attendants and Prime Minister Chen?"

Chen Zhulou closed his eyes, then exerted force on his legs, and the horse under him suddenly galloped away: "No matter who they are, no matter what conspiracy they have, let them come."

"Why is Chen afraid of these evil spirits?"

Royal Palace
Zhang Rang had received the news long ago and was now as anxious as an ant on hot pan.

He looked at the others beside him with angry expressions on their faces: "Why at this time, why at this time!"

"What Cao Cao did before is nothing compared to what happened today."

"King An has just taken power, and my uncle's affairs have been exposed. Isn't this a direct slap in the face of King An?"

"After this, even if King An wants to let us go, it will be absolutely impossible!"

"No matter what, he will definitely wipe us out completely just to save his face!"

Zhao Zhong's expression was gloomy: "We shouldn't have asked His Majesty to call this man here in the first place. Now the situation is completely out of our control!" "Will King An let us go?"

There was a slight silence in the room.

Zhang Rang stood up suddenly, and then whispered: "I will leave the palace tonight and go to Prince An's palace to explain today's events to Prince An. I will never let Prince An misunderstand us!"

He looked around and said softly, "You and I are on the same boat. If anything happens to me, you will definitely not be able to escape."

"I hope you won't make mistakes at this time!"

After saying this, Zhang Rang stood up and left.

A few people were left looking at each other with different expressions.

Husband and wife are birds of a feather; they fly away when disaster strikes. What’s more, the group of people sitting in this room are together because of their own interests?

袁府
Yuan Feng smiled slightly, put the chess piece in his hand on the chessboard, looked at Yuan Ji who was sitting opposite him, and asked, "What do you think you would do if you were in this situation?"

Yuan Ji said without hesitation, "Go find King An."

"As long as we can convince King An, whether by threats, inducements, or any other methods, as long as King An nods to this matter, then picks it up high and puts it down gently, this calamity can be resolved."

“But it’s difficult.”

Yuan Ji sat there, very polite.

"King An is definitely not someone who can be bribed, coerced or bribed."

"There is no solution to this situation."

"The end of the Ten Eunuchs is today."

Yuan Feng nodded and said with emotion: "Yes, King An is not someone who can be bribed."

He stood up slowly and put his hands behind his back.

“But this was not something we did.”

"Who do you think is responsible for this?"

Yuan Ji was silent for a moment. He couldn't tell from this incident who was behind this.

A person who can do such a thing at the right time must have a very tight control over the current situation. In the entire Chang'an City, apart from the Yuan family and King An, who else can have such means?
Hongnong Yang family?

As soon as the name appeared in his mind, he began to shake his head to rule it out.

The Hongnong Yang family could not do such a thing.

He looked at Yuan Feng hesitantly: "Father, who do you think it could be?"

Who is it?
Yuan Feng smiled and looked towards the direction of the imperial palace.

He had always thought that the emperor was incompetent, but now he seemed to realize that the emperor was not as incompetent as he had imagined, but seemed to have some means.

They had never seen the "Embroidered Robe Messenger" who had existed since the time of Emperor Wen, so they naturally thought that the Embroidered Robe Messenger had disappeared.

Can.
What if the Embroidered Robe Messenger did not disappear and was still under the emperor's control?
But what was the emperor's reason for doing this?

Yuan Feng couldn't figure it out.

So he continued to remain silent.

An Wangfu
Zhang Rang came under the cover of night and met Chen Chengji, who had not yet rested.

The moment he saw Chen Chengji, he knelt down on the ground, and then explained the whole matter with tears and snot, and swore that this matter had absolutely nothing to do with him. He had no idea that his uncle was such a person.

If King An wanted to punish him, he would never interfere, let alone ignore the matter.

I just hope the king will not vent his anger on him because of this.

Chen Chengji looked at Zhang Rang, who was kneeling on the ground, with no change in expression. After Zhang Rang finished speaking, he spoke in silence: "It's no use begging me."

There was a hint of silence and fatigue in his eyes: "This matter is not over yet, and it hasn't even begun yet."

"Everything will begin when your uncle arrives in Chang'an."

Chen Chengji looked at the humble Zhang Rang without any sympathy in his eyes, even though this time Zhang Rang's uncle and even Zhang Rang were just implicated "fish in the pond".

Because Zhang Rang, his uncle, and even his relatives did indeed do such a thing.

"Let's go back."

After saying this, Chen Chengji lowered his head and looked at the document in his hand, and then fell into silence for a long time.

Zhang Rang walked on the street with a confused look on his face.

Everything hasn't started yet?
Will everything begin when his uncle arrives in Chang'an City?
Although Zhang Rang was not very smart, he was not stupid either. He understood the meaning of this in an instant.

There was a ruthless flash in his eyes.

"Then let him not come to Chang'an!"

董府
Dong Zhuo scratched his head, not quite understanding the current situation.

He turned his head and looked at Jia Xu and said, "Wenhe, what is going on?"

"Why does everything seem to have changed all of a sudden?"

“I don’t quite understand.”

Jia Xu waved his fan leisurely and said with a smile: "General, why do you need to understand these things? It has nothing to do with you anyway."

He yawned. "It's just that those all-powerful people are fighting each other."

"We can't get involved, and we don't need to get involved."

"Just watch the show."

Although Dong Zhuo still didn't understand the meaning, he had one advantage, which was that he was obedient.

"alright."

"So we're going to stay at home for a few days? I'm going to call in sick?"

Jia Xu nodded, and then said: "However, if the general wants to gain fame in the upcoming chaotic times, he cannot wait until this matter is over, but must get involved at the most critical moment of this matter."

He narrowed his eyes: "People are like this."

“You must demonstrate your ‘value’ in order to gain more ‘things’.”

Dong Zhuo was confused by Jia Xu's mysterious words and he couldn't understand them.

He asked directly: "How to do it? When to do it?"

Simple, straightforward and clear.

Jia Xu pointed to the distance and said, "General, you can send someone to rescue Zhang Ze. Perhaps you can also rescue the prince of An Kingdom and the captain of the lower army."

"If we're lucky, we might even be able to save the royal family."

save people?

Save the Crown Prince of An Kingdom?

Dong Zhuo immediately stood up and said, "I'll go there myself!"

(End of this chapter)