At the end of Qin, I became a son of the plane

Chapter 224, Zhang Cang’s flexible moral bottom line and finding a way out
"Absolutely not!" Hu Hai said anxiously.

He knew that he was just a substitute for his brother. If his brother hadn't been too stubborn, Qin II wouldn't have had his turn.

And Prime Minister Feng Quji once supported his brother as the crown prince. If Fusu appeared in Guanzhong, would he be able to keep his position?

Hu Hai is simple, but not stupid. He will never allow Fusu to return to Guanzhong.

"Cough!" Zhao Gao coughed.

Hu Hai came to his senses this time and said: "Now the rebels are about to attack Yanmen County. Shangjun is our rear area in Guanzhong. My brother's care is indispensable there. So the prime minister said that he should send his brother back to Xianyang, but I won't allow it. There is no need to discuss it. As for cracking down on profiteers, I will leave it to my cousin Ziying. A small profiteer can make a huge difference."

Feng Quji said helplessly: "No."

He didn't want to have a conflict with Qin II because of a few profiteers.

After the court meeting, Qin II was in the palace, smashing everything he could see in front of him.

"The old guy actually wants to bring my eldest brother back. He is determined to replace me with his eldest brother."

Qin Er said fiercely: "Yes, settle the general accounts for them. After killing Feng Quji, send the eldest brother down and let him accompany his father."

Xianyang City, Huaishuli, Zhangcang Mansion.

In Qin II's opinion, no rebel army posed a greater threat to him than Fusu.

When the Second Emperor of Qin heard about Ziying's resolute actions, he quickly suppressed the price of food. He was very happy and thought that it was because of his skill in employing people. The emperor was not difficult to do.

He thought for a while and said: "Your Majesty, the court still needs this old guy Feng Quji to be in charge at this time. When the allied forces outside the Pass retreat, I will settle the accounts with him."

But at this time, six to seven hundred thousand troops outside the pass were watching eagerly, and Hangu Pass was in danger. Killing Feng Quji at this time would really be asking for death.

After becoming the internal historian, he directly led the soldiers to arrest the shopkeepers of five grain stores, killing the chickens to scare the monkeys. At the same time, grain merchants were asked to sell grain at a fair price. Grain merchants in Guanzhong were frightened by Ziying's move, so the price of grain rose three times a day, and finally managed to suppress the situation.

It was unexpected that Ziying received the order from Qin II. He was the son of Chengjiao, and he was born with original sin among the Qin clan. He himself had not been prominent in Guanzhong for many years, and being cautious was his way of survival. He was winning the clan name. He was completely transparent among relatives, but he didn't expect that someone would notice him at this time, but he was unwilling to receive this attention.

If Qin II didn't even have to talk about it at other times, he would find a way to kill Feng Quji and kill people like Li Si to gain power.

Even to the extreme, if the world is given to the rebels, he cannot give it to Fusu. If it is given to the rebels, he may still survive, but if it is given to Fusu, he will definitely die.

The current situation in Great Qin is not good, and the position of the internal history order is not easy to sit in. In particular, it is easy to offend people when checking food problems. However, this is an order given by Qin II, and he does not dare to disobey it. Ziying can only Can accept the position of Nei Shi Ling.

He, Zhao Gao, wanted to be a powerful minister of the Qin Dynasty, not a slave to the subjugation of the Qin Dynasty.

Qin Er looked at Zhao Gao and said: "Teacher, why don't we find an opportunity to kill this old guy Feng Quji and replace him with one of our own as the prime minister? I think you are very good, teacher."

Zhang Cang's wife said: "Although the price of grain has not increased, you can't buy grain. I went to the grain shops in the east and west cities and they all said that the grain has been sold out and you can't buy it at all. You can only go to the black market to buy several times the amount." The price is high, but the family doesn’t have enough money.”

Zhao Gao stopped him in a panic and said: "Feng Wuze is still at Hangu Pass. If Feng Quji is moved at this time, the pass is in danger."

It can only be said that the sense of oppression Xu Fan brought to Zhao Gao was too strong. You must know that this master in history dared to cut off the food and fodder of Zhang Han's army, the only main force of the Qin Dynasty, when Xiang Yu had completely annihilated Wang Li's Northern Xinjiang Army, just to attack his political enemy Li Si.

After he killed Li Si, Zhang Han also led 20 Qin troops to surrender to Xiang Yu, and Liu Bang also attacked Wuguan. At this time, Zhao Gao panicked. Zhao Gao cannot be said to be the main reason for the demise of the Qin State, but he is indeed the number one contributor.

"Husband, there is no food in the house. If you don't think of anything else, the whole family will be hungry." Zhang Cang's wife said with a bitter face.

Historically, he felt that as long as the Hangu Pass was defended, Da Qin could still keep the territory in Shuzhong in Guanzhong. Now the 60 coalition troops are outside the pass, and even Zhao Gao does not dare to fight among themselves at this time.

The enemy's attack on Hangu Pass has not never happened before. It has happened several times over the past 100 years, and was blocked by the Qin Dynasty. But if Fusu reaches Guanzhong, he can really replace him.

"The imperial court does not negotiate the price of food. If there is not enough food, just buy it." Zhang Cang said.

As a minor official in the empire, Zhang Cang was treated well by Da Qin. He had a small house in the imperial capital, and he usually ate and drank at the official office. He also has more than 200 shi of grain and several thousand yuan of salary every year. Even if he does not take bribes, his income is considered to be mid-to-high or above in Xianyang City.

But he himself has a shortcoming that is not a shortcoming, and that is that he married a third wife. Normally, it is not a problem to support the family with this salary, but when the price of food increases several times, it will be very difficult.

Zhang Cang is a minor official in the empire. After listening to his wife's words, he certainly understands the twists and turns in this. The government does not allow the price of grain to be increased, so the grain merchants will not increase it, but they can make the grain priceless. You can't buy it at this price, so you can only go to the black market to buy high-priced grain.

This Ziying seems to have stabilized food prices, but in fact he has not done anything serious. He only caught a few flies and did not kill a tiger. He has not really calmed down prices so that people can buy affordable food. He is completely doing it. This method of deceiving people is too common among Qin officials.

"He is not a Qin official. Who can he fool like this? It really brings shame on the First Emperor." After figuring out the twists and turns, Zhang Cang said viciously.

He did not inherit the First Emperor's grandeur and strong executive power at all. Instead, he looked like a smooth Qin official, not like a clan member with the surname Ying.

Doesn't he understand that if Guanzhong is unstable, Qin may be destroyed? If Qin is destroyed, what will happen to their clan members?

The royal families of the six kingdoms have been wiped out by the First Emperor, and the revenge armies of the six kingdoms in Guandong have invaded Guanzhong. Does Ziying think there will be any good outcome for these people?
"I'll find a way!" After saying that, Zhang Cang took the ox cart and rushed to the Dongshi Grain Store. It was exactly as the housekeeper said. Although the door was still open, there was not a grain of grain inside.

"I want to buy food." Zhang Cang called as he entered the door.

A waiter came out and apologized: "Sir, we have run out of food. Would you like to go somewhere else?"

Zhang Cang said: "I know you have grain. Today, if you don't sell grain to Naigong at a fair price, Naigong will go to the Yushi doctor's house to sue you. The court has asked you to distribute grain at a fair price. How dare you violate the imperial court's will?"

"Our Imperial Censor's Office specializes in handling this matter. You also know what happened to the person in charge of the grain store a few days ago. As long as our Imperial Censor's Office investigates, your life will be at risk."

When the waiter heard this, he was not frightened by the sign of Yushi Dafufu. Instead, he sneered and called two strong men over and said: "If you want to cause trouble, don't ask around. Our boss is the Prince Consort and has good connections." Damn it, no matter what kind of gangster, dare to run wild in the imperial capital."

Seeing that three strong men were about to surround him, Zhang Cang immediately said: "Nai Gong is the lower pillar official of Yushi Dafu's Mansion. If you dare to touch Nai Gong, you will be dead."

The waiter sneered and said: "A petty official as big as a sesame seed dares to act wild here. Just call anyone on this street and his official position is higher than yours."

Zhang Cang continued: "The prime minister at that time, Li Si, was Naigong's senior brother. Normally, Prime Minister Li might not care about a minor official like me, but if you dare to hit Naigong, you are slapping Prime Minister Li in the face. You can weigh it yourself, and the prince-in-law will do it." I won’t offend the Prime Minister because of you.”

The guy was really scared. As I said before, this is the imperial capital. Who knows if this humble fat man is really Prime Minister Li Si’s junior brother?

What the fat man said is true. His life may not be saved. It is not worth risking his life for this little food.

Zhang Cang saw that the waiter seemed frightened and continued: "Nai Gong's requirements are not high. I only want 10 shi of affordable grain. If you sell the grain to me, forget about it."

The waiter had no choice but to go to the back to find the manager. After thinking about it, the manager decided to settle the matter and not make the money, so he sold ten shi of grain to Zhang Cang at a fair price.

After bringing the food and driving the bullock cart, Zhang Cang was sweating profusely. He had just acted like a fox and pretended to be a tiger, but the man really beat him, and Zhang Cang could only suffer the loss.

Li Si's reputation among Xunzi's disciples was already bad because he killed Han Fei and tempted the First Emperor to burn books and harass Confucian scholars. People like Zhang Cang had never thought of taking refuge in Li Si, and of course they didn't dare to. Who knows if they would be Li Si cheated him to death, his senior brother cheated his junior brother. Li Si was the second person after Pang Juan, so Li Si didn't know him as his junior brother.

Thinking of this, Zhang Cang smiled bitterly and said: "I didn't expect that in the end, I relied on Li Si's tiger skin to tide over the difficulties." Zhang Cang was determined not to taint Li Si, so he was just a petty official in Xianyang for nearly ten years. As a result, For a few stones of food, Zhang Cang felt that his low moral bottom line had become more flexible.

Fortunately, we finally got food. If we save some food, we can carry it for two months. After two months, Guanzhong will also be captured by the rebels.

Leaving the East Market quickly, Zhang Cang passed by the Human Market. It was full of people who stuck straws in their heads. Most of them were women. Those who were really young and strong were directly recruited to serve as soldiers. There were also many children under 10 years old. They were so hungry that their faces were sallow and thin, with only a head and belly left. big.

"Is there any kind-hearted gentleman who can buy this little girl?"

"Selling your body to bury your husband only costs one stone of food."

"Sell yourself into slavery and give me a full meal."

However, some well-dressed people were patrolling these prostitutes, and the prettier women and girls were taken away by them, leaving only a few loaves or a small bag of grain for their relatives.

There were pitiful cries, insensitive people, and even a few people lying on the ground in despair. An atmosphere of despair enveloped the entire city.

"This is Xianyang." This scene is like a group of jackals, circling around a group of weak cattle and sheep. Zhang Cang couldn't help but close his eyes. Da Qin couldn't even maintain order in Xianyang City.

"Mother, mother!" A girl's heartbreaking cry touched Zhang Cang's heart. He knew that if he didn't do something, he would regret it for the rest of his life.

He stopped the carriage, snatched the little girl away, and gave it back to the woman.

"What do you want to do? We paid for it," the strong man who bought the person said angrily.

"Nai Gong's senior brother is Prime Minister Li Si." Zhang Cang said expressionlessly. After breaking through the bottom line, Zhang Cang felt that there was nothing wrong with borrowing Li Si's tiger skin, as long as it was a good thing.

As expected, the strong man did not dare to say anything more, but continued to look for the next target. Anyway, there was no shortage of people here, so why offend such an unknown person.

Zhang Cang said to the woman and her three children: "Come with me, I can make you eat well."

The woman immediately took her three children and knelt down and said: "Greetings to the master."

Zhang Cang smiled bitterly and said: "Don't call me master, you are not slaves, call me master."

Then Zhang Cang rescued four more people, mother and son. Behind his ox cart were two women and six children.

This is already the limit of his ability. No matter how much he has, he can't feed these people.

From that day on, in addition to paying attention to the situation on the front line every day, Zhang Cang would bring a big food box to the government office. He would definitely return home with a lot of food every night to feed his family of more than a dozen people.

In the past, this kind of poaching was very despised by Zhang Cang. He even believed that it was because of Qin officials' frantic poaching of the empire that Great Qin became what it is now. But now he can't control it.

It is what Mencius said that one cannot bend with force, one cannot move wealth, one cannot move poverty, one cannot move one's humbleness.

If I, a disciple of Xunzi, listened to Mencius, my teacher would be so angry that he would come over and beat me.

After convincing himself, Zhang Cang acted even more unscrupulously. Not only would the food box be filled with food, but his large court clothes would also be filled with noodles. By digging into the corners of the Qin Empire, the food he brought home every day was enough to feed his family. people.

With Zhang Cang Zhuyu in front, many petty officials followed suit. The petty officials in the government offices all tried their best to bring food to their families. What surprised Zhang Cang was that no matter how much food they brought out, the government office would always have food.

Zhang Cang couldn't help but ask the fireman of the government office, why did the government office have so much food?

As a result, Huo Fu said: "Since the price of food has skyrocketed, Prime Minister Li Si has asked the government to make more food. As long as there is no food left, we will make 30% more food. Now the food made every day is ten times as much as before."
Zhang Cang was stunned and thought to himself: "My senior brother is still capable, but his character is too poor."

Zhang Cang came home that day, but his wife said: "Husband, the right prime minister has sent an invitation."

Zhang Cang also looked stunned. He had no contact with Li Si at all, that is, he borrowed his tiger skin two days ago, but his senior brother wouldn't be so stingy, so he should pursue this matter.

No matter what Zhang Cang thought, he didn't dare not go if he was in a high and powerful position.

The next day, Zhang Cang came to Li Si's mansion. Compared with Zhang Cang's small mansion, Li Si's mansion was as huge as the imperial palace.

Zhang Cang sighed: "As expected of the prime minister's residence, it is indeed magnificent. It's a pity that this grandeur is also cooked in flames and decorated with flowers. I only hope that in a few months, this mansion will not be destroyed by the fire."

Zhang Cang handed over the invitation, and then, under the guidance of his servant, he met his senior senior brother who was in a high position.

Behind Li Si were two young men whom Zhang Cang also knew. They were his senior brother's second son, Li Feng, and his third son, Li Shi. Both of them married the First Emperor's princess. Li Si's two daughters also married the First Emperor's sons. The Li family is the top noble in the Qin Dynasty.

Li Si saw Zhang Cang and smiled and said: "Junior brother has been in Xianyang for many years, but he didn't come to see him. It was only a few days ago that he learned about the lack of food. Feng'er, I will order the servant to transport 100 shi of food to my brother's house later. ”

Li Feng said: "I understand, father."

Zhang Cang immediately stopped him and said: "No need. Now the imperial court has provided for my food. Plus my salary, I can save a little food and my family will not be hungry. Now the whole Xianyang City is short of food. 100 shi of food is enough." The official residence is too ostentatious, and I can’t bear it.”

Sure enough, Li Si found out about his pretentiousness, but he didn't understand that he was a small official, powerless, and of no use to his senior brother. Why was he so polite?
Li Si didn't care about Zhang Cang's stop, but continued to smile: "Junior brother, you have been serving as a historian for the past ten years. You have been staying in the library of the Yushi Mansion, studying hundreds of schools of knowledge. The depth of your knowledge far exceeds Senior brother, I am afraid that the master is better than the master. I am afraid that the teacher will be very happy to know the knowledge of my junior brother in Huangquan. "

"It's embarrassing to say that my senior brother has been an official for many years, but the knowledge taught by the teacher has fallen behind."

Zhang Cang immediately said: "Teacher is a scholar of heaven and man, but my knowledge is still far behind."

The more Li Si complimented himself like this, the more worried he became.

Li Si smiled and said, "But it's better than being a brother."

Li Si continued: "I feel ashamed to say that my senior brother has assisted His Majesty in handling government affairs over the years, but has neglected the teachings of my two sons. I invited my junior brother here today because I want Feng'er to worship you as his teacher."

"Teacher, come again, please accept Li Feng's bow!"

Zhang Cang was shocked, helped Li Feng up and said, "My younger brother is not very talented and has little knowledge. I don't dare to mislead others."

Li Si smiled and said: "Junior brothers all say that their knowledge is shallow, but I'm afraid no one in the world dares to say that they have profound knowledge."

Seeing that Zhang Cang still wanted to postpone, Li Si said: "We are all disciples of the teacher. We should understand that the teacher hates the cumbersome etiquette and false humility of corrupt Confucianism. Back then, the teacher scolded Lu Ru and almost disbanded. If the junior brother wants to postpone it again, the senior brother can only use The great gift has shown the whole Xianyang City’s sincerity.”

Zhang Cang had no choice but to accept Li Feng as his disciple.

Li Si was also very anxious. When Zhang Cang left, Li Feng had already followed Zhang Cang to Zhang Cang's mansion, saying that he was not a scholar and was not allowed to come back.

When he saw Li Feng and the Seventh Princess in coarse cloth following him home, Zhang Cang understood Li Si's thoughts a little bit. His senior brother wanted to take care of him.

Zhang Cang smiled bitterly in his heart: "Am I a big shot? Senior brother actually thinks that I can keep his son?"

(End of this chapter)