I, Liu Bian, Sanxing Han Dynasty

Chapter 306 Cruel Officials
In Zhang Jian's view, Liu Bian's action of nipping at the bud was equivalent to treating his subjects as thieves, which would inevitably alienate the subjects from the monarch.

From an academic perspective, it supports the inherent evil of human nature, which is also contrary to his political views.

In terms of discussing classics alone, Huangfu Song was no better than Zhang Jian, who had been immersed in classics studies for many years. Facing Zhang Jian's great principles, he gradually fell behind.

But the real power lies in the hands of Huangfu Song, and Huangfu Song is a determined person. When Dong Zhuo was in power, he used an edict to ask him to give up his troops and return to Beijing, and almost died. But today, when people have such trust in him, how can he waver?

As Zhang Jian matured, he gradually realized that Huangfu Song was not someone who could be persuaded with words.

So he retreated to the next best thing and continued: "Yizhen should know what Kong Wenju did in Chen State. The excessive correction made the county and country shocked, and the people of every county and village were in panic. There was an army in Yanzhou, and the fear of the villagers was even greater..."

Although Huangfu Song was cruel to the rebels, he still treated the common people very well. In the past, after he put down the Yellow Turban Rebellion in Jizhou, he petitioned to exempt the people of Jizhou from one year's land rent, and he was also very strict in controlling military discipline.

He promised Zhang Jian: "Don't worry, sir. In Yanzhou, rewards and punishments are all in accordance with the law. There will be no extra-legal behavior in front of me."

After receiving this promise, Zhang Jian seemed to have completed his mission and stood up tremblingly, as if he was about to fall down the next moment.

Huangfu Song quickly stood up and stepped forward to help him personally.

"I wanted to say goodbye to Yizhen, but I didn't want to worry about Yizhen's support because I am old and numb..."

Huangfu Song declined and said, "Why did you say this?"

Zhang Jian suddenly lowered his voice and whispered: "Yizhen... don't let this life go to waste."

He wanted to say something else, but then he thought of himself, and when he spoke, only these six words came out.

After that, his waist was no longer sore, his legs were no longer numb, and he no longer needed Huangfu Song's support.

Zhang Jian laughed and left, only raising his hand to wave to Huangfu Song who was standing there.

If Zhang Jian hadn't laughed too much later and was choked, and was supported by Huangfu Song who caught up, this situation would have been a good story.

Not long after Huangfusong said goodbye to Zhang Jian, he met another person, Sima Manchong, a military leaver from the school affairs department.

"How's it going?"

Man Chong replied: "As expected by the general, the reason why Zhang Gong came to see the general was instigated by people from Shanyang County and Township. Later, Wang, Liu, Xue and other people from Gaoping visited him many times, because he did not After further investigation, we found out nothing more. Among them, General Annan Liu Biao must be arrested and tortured."

Since a criminal was killed due to excessive punishment and had to abandon his official position and return home, Man Chong learned from the pain and his style was much more restrained than before.

Before Zhang Jian came, Huangfu Song suspected that Zhang Jian was trying to open someone's eyes for someone, but after seeing him, Huangfu Song had no doubts anymore.

Kong Rong once took Zhang Jian under his wing, but Zhang Jian still wanted to mention Kong Rong's name for criticism. Huangfu Song was willing to believe that Zhang Jian came because he couldn't stand Kong Rong's actions.

"After Mr. Zhang returns, he will stop interfering. There is no need to investigate anymore... What about the powerful prefecture and county wealthy families who were previously investigated for privately recruiting guests?"

Man Chong replied: "Lu Qian of Rencheng Kingdom and Li Qian of Shanyang County had thousands of guests before, which was the highest among all families in Yanzhou. A year ago, they heard that there was an inspection by the imperial censor, so they sent the guests to various places. After the censor left, the two men recalled more than a thousand people. When they heard that the general was here, they all dispersed. "

Hearing this, Huangfu Song wanted to laugh for a moment. He asked, "In your opinion, if I don't pay attention, how many guests will the other generation be able to bring back next year?"

"There is no definite number." Man Chong answered in a very rigid manner.

"Just make an estimate at will." "There should be hundreds of families. In this way, they are no different from other powerful families in the county." It was said casually, but Man Chong still stated the basis for his judgment.

The so-called guests who come to the house are different from the diners, and most of them can be called tenants with good treatment.

These guests rely on the master's family to enjoy a better life than ordinary people, and they will naturally obey the master's family's orders, but they are different from slaves.

Some of them are powerful and simply do not have the ability to transform guests into slaves, while others value the temporary attributes of guests. After all, guests can leave at will, but slaves cannot.

Huangfu Song was very satisfied with Man Chong, who was born in Shanyang County like Zhang Jian, and murmured: "In this way, each family has hundreds or even thousands of troops... There shouldn't be thousands, but there are always three to five hundred." some……"

Man Chong shut his mouth tightly. Huangfu Song dared to say this, but he did not dare to say it.

After all, they are all common people, so where are the soldiers?

"Later, you will write down the details of this incident. I will read it and report it to His Majesty."

"Yes!" Man Chong said and left.

……

When Xun You met Li Ru, the latter was at the grain store outside the south gate, watching people queuing up to buy grain at reduced prices.

There were officials in official uniforms on duty, and the scene was in order. There were no fights or queue jumping, because officials would punish such disruptive behavior mercilessly.

Xun You also saw that the people selling grain in the store were not subordinates of Da Sinong.

It's right to say that no matter how many subordinates there are in the Da Si Nong, if they really have to distribute food to various places to transport and sell food, the manpower will be stretched. This has not yet considered whether these subordinate officials are willing or not.

After explaining his purpose and conveying the emperor's questions, Xun You asked: "Mr. Li, where do these grain sellers come from?"

Li Ru said frankly: "It turned out to be someone from this shop."

Xun You was puzzled. Did Li Ru figure out the person behind the grain merchant so quickly? So why are there so many memorials to impeach him?

Perhaps he saw Xun You's doubts, and it was because Xun You could explain his plan to the emperor after he returned. Before Xun You asked, Li Ru explained: "Xun You doesn't know, they all did it voluntarily."

While talking, Li Ru stopped a servant who was carrying food and asked, "Are you willing?"

"Yes Yes……"

Xun You saw that the servant nodded repeatedly but stammered in his words. He didn't dare to look at Li Ru. It was obviously fear in his heart.

He knew the principle of obeying authority in urgent matters, but he was unwilling to let Li Ru go too far.

But Li Ru seemed to have predicted his thoughts and admitted simply: "Mr. Xun was right, I threatened them."

"If they offend the master's family, they still have a chance, and I will make the decision for them. But if they offend me, they won't be able to pass the current hurdle, and there will be no need to talk about the future."

At this point, Li Ru observed Xun You and saw that Xun You actually restrained his anger and did not blame him for abusing the punishment. His evaluation of Xun You couldn't help but improve a bit.

(End of this chapter)