I, Liu Bian, Sanxing Han Dynasty

Chapter 406 Undercurrent
Jizhou.

In a valley in Changshan County.

This is the territory under the jurisdiction of the Montenegrin Army.

"Yu Du, do you admit your guilt?"

"I don't know! I'm making wine on my own land with my own grain. What's wrong with that?"

Although she was the one being tried, Yu Du stood in front of the hall with her hands on her hips, baring her breasts without any hesitation, looking like a reckless person.

But no one dared to step forward to stop him.

However, Dong Zhao, who came to judge him personally, was not angered by Yu Du's rude behavior.

This historical "Great Wei Si Tu" said with reason: "Because the wheat production in the valley has decreased this year, in order to ensure that the grain reserves can last until next year, the General of the Central Army issued an order last month to prohibit the use of grain to make wine. Don't you know?"

Yu Du did not discuss the orders of the General of the Household with Dong Zhao, but insisted: "I can eat my family's food however I want. I just want to soak it in water and drink it. What's it to you?"

"Besides, if Marshal Feiyan was here, it would be fine. But who the hell are you to dare to ask about Marshal Heishan's affairs?"

After these words were spoken, although Dong Zhao's expression did not change, there was a reaction from those around him.

However, this reaction was not what Dong Zhao wanted to see.

Sui Gu and Bai Rao, two young commanders of the Black Mountain Army who had come upon hearing the news, shouted sarcastically: "That's right, that's right!"

"Marshal Feiyan is not here, don't forget who you are!"

As soon as they spoke, their followers, including Yu Du's men, started to shout and make a scene. Some even raised their sheathed knives, whether out of excitement or to threaten.

Although Dong Zhao did not come alone, his followers all looked fearful when faced with this scene, and were obviously unwilling to stand up for Dong Zhao.

Yu Du continued to watch the scene with his hands on his hips, looking at Dong Zhao with amusement.

He has been dissatisfied with Dong Zhao and the people behind Dong Zhao for a long time!

Ever since Zhang Yan sent his son Zhang Fang away, the Black Mountain bandits, who were originally just officials in disguise, began to formally transform into real officials and civilians.

The Black Mountain Army was like a county—Zhang Yan was the governor, and the generals who followed Zhang Yan were county magistrates and county heads. Except for the titles of governor and county head, everything else was there.

Yu Du is such a small general. Unlike Sun Qing, who directly led his troops to join Zhang Yan's army and was equivalent to serving Zhang Yan, under the common name of the Black Mountain Army, Yu Du is more like a small prince under the big princes and has greater sovereignty.

Among these "small princes", Yu Du is the most powerful.

Just as Yu Du said, in the Black Mountain Army, he is not afraid of anyone except Zhang Yan!
"I heard someone calling me from far away, so I came here. It's really lively here!"

As this loud voice drowned out the noise in the hall and reached the ears of the people inside, Sui Gu, who was originally leading the group of people making strange noises outside, seemed to have his throat strangled at this moment. His originally exaggerated movements were frozen in place due to shock, just like a rooster that flapped its wings and pretended to sing loudly, but suddenly retracted its neck.

"Fei Yan Shuai..."

"Marshal Feiyan is not here today!" Bai Rao didn't pay any attention to the movement outside. He was about to shout a few more words when he suddenly felt the follower behind him pulling his sleeve. He was about to turn around and scold when he saw Zhang Yan appear in his sight.

“Fly…fly, fly, fly…”

"Arao, I haven't seen you for a long time. How come you can't speak clearly anymore... You have to speak more in the future to practice your mouth. Gu, stand still. After all, you are in charge of others. You have to pay attention to your manners, otherwise you will have to live in this mountain for the rest of your life. Du Shuai, you are the same. If you really want to drink a few sips of wine, tell me. I have a few jars of wine in my collection and I will send them to you later!"

Zhang Yan walked into the hall as if he was home, and greeted the three young generals present with a big laugh.

One clapped his hands, the other patted his shoulder.

Even though there was a hint of blame in what he said to Du, Zhang Yan still smiled and spoke in a joking tone.

Facing Zhang Yan, Yu Du really didn't dare to put on the attitude of "hands in pockets, not knowing who is my opponent" anymore.

He obediently bowed to Zhang Yan together with Sui Gu and Bai Rao, who had finally reacted.

"Brothers, why should we be so polite? I came here today not for anything else, but just because I haven't seen you brothers for a long time, and I miss you so much!"

Who can't see through the saying that the drunkard's real interest lies elsewhere?
It was just that Yu Du and the other three were just pretending that it was true.

Yu Du also sincerely admitted his mistake and said, "Fei Yan Shuai is right, I was greedy for a moment. I am embarrassed to keep the wine, Fei Yan Shuai will take it away later, and I won't be bothered if I don't see it!"

"Good brother!" Zhang Yan laughed twice, smiling happily, "I, Zhang Yan, never treat my brothers unfairly. I'll send someone to deliver my collection of wine later!"

Laughing, Zhang Yan walked to Dong Zhao's original seat. Dong Zhao had already given up his original main seat. Zhang Yan sat down without hesitation and said, "Brothers, sit down first!"

Then he turned to Dong Zhao and said, "Gongren, you sit down too, next to me."

Dong Zhaosui also sat cross-legged like Zhang Yan, without putting on airs like a scholar-official.

Seeing that everyone was sitting down, Zhang Yan said, "We have finished talking about the wine, let's talk about the next thing..." He ignored Dong Zhao's presence and said without hiding anything, "Why did we become thieves in the first place? It was because we couldn't live a good life anymore! What do you think, brothers?"

Yu Du immediately said, "Yes, yes, that's right, we were forced by those corrupt officials!"

After saying this, he deliberately glanced at Dong Zhao twice.

Zhang Yan ignored Yu Du's little gesture and continued, "Du is right, that's exactly it! But over the years, some of our old brothers who followed us in the past have become less and less decent, and are about to become the corrupt officials who forced us in the past!"

"Do you know how outsiders viewed us at that time? Did we govern? If we governed, we might as well not govern!"

"So, in order to prevent the tragedy of the past from happening again, I worked hard to persuade the governor of Jizhou to transfer Dong Gongren, a capable official with a long history of political achievements!" Zhang Yan supported Dong Zhao's arm and glanced at the three young generals. "You all know Gongren's reputation. Not only did the late Jia Gong admire him very much, but if you go to the counties where Gongren was in charge and ask around, everyone, from the elderly to the young, will praise him!"

"At first, considering Gongren's safety here, Governor Ying did not allow it. It was only after I gave my son away that Governor Ying finally wrote a letter to the emperor and got his approval. Don't I want to have my own son like you brothers? I just had no choice! If anyone is envious, feel free to send your son to Luoyang to replace me. I will fully support you!"

Zhang Fang had a bright future in Luoyang, so Yu Du and others were naturally envious and jealous.

But if they were really asked to send their son there... they would be hesitant because they couldn't bear to let him go.

Yu Du said: "What are you talking about, Marshal Fei Yan? How can we, as elders, be envious? We only feel sorry for Ah Fang!"

Sui Gu and Bai Rao also echoed this.

Zhang Yan did not hesitate and continued, "I have seen how Gongren has behaved since he came here, and the changes in the mountain are also getting better day by day! I once heard Governor Ying say that everything is full of vitality and everything is flourishing. This is the best way to describe the mountain!"

"This year's drought is a natural disaster, not a man-made one. Although we in the mountains are not yet at the point where we can't afford food, we should still make preparations early! That's why I forbid brewing wine... I know my brothers are saying that I was bewitched by Gongren, but I, Zhang Yan, have been galloping through the mountains with a group of brothers since I was young, and I can tell right from wrong! Everything Gongren did was under my orders!"

"Just now, the three brothers made fun of Gongren, just like making fun of me!"

After Zhang Yan finished speaking, one could hear a pin drop in the hall.

Even Dong Zhao, who had always thought that Zhang Yan was a knowledgeable warrior, began to look at Zhang Yan with new eyes after hearing these words.

Facing Zhang Yan's sharp gaze, Yu Du hesitated under pressure, and finally stood up and bowed to Dong Zhao, saying, "Gongren, I was rude before, I hope you won't blame me!"

Dong Zhao also immediately stood up and returned the greeting, saying, "This is all for the sake of the people in the mountains. Please don't blame me for being rude."

Sui Gu and Bai Rao also followed Yu Du and apologized to Dong Zhao, and Dong Zhao returned the favor one by one.

Zhang Yan looked at the harmony that she maintained, with a smile on her face.

But only he himself knows how real and how fake this smile is.

That night, Yu Du took advantage of the quiet night when no one was around and sneaked into Sui Gu's room.

The two of them sat opposite each other with candles, looking into each other's eyes.

Both discovered the dissatisfaction in each other's hearts.

When Dong Zhao came here, Zhang Yan was laughing, and the lower-level Black Mountain Army members were also laughing, but they did not want to laugh.

This is certainly not because they are naturally not fond of smiling.

Just because their lives are not as comfortable as before!

For Yu Dusui Gu, why did he go to so much trouble to become the leader of the thieves? Of course, it was to become a superior person.

But even though they were dissatisfied, they were powerless to change the status quo because of Zhang Yan's pressure.

But now, the opportunity has come!

The wheat harvest was poor, and there was not much land in the valleys occupied by the Black Shirts that could be used as farmland, so grain had always been scarce.

The drought in the mountains is worse than anywhere else.

"But this is not enough!" Yu Du lowered his voice, "Even if there is not enough food now, the tribesmen will choose to trust Zhang Feiyan, just like when they followed Zhang Feiyan to Youzhou to fight for food."

"So, we need a reason that can arouse the anger of the troops and make them willing to oppose Dong Zhao!" Sui Gu interjected.

However, the two looked at each other affectionately again.

"I thought of it!"

"I thought of it too!"

Yu Du said proudly: "At the beginning of this year, the court sent troops to attack the Xianbei. Afterwards, the soldiers in Youzhou received rewards, but Jizhou, which supplied Youzhou with food and grass, got nothing except the lost food and grass."

"These should have been life-saving foods, but they were privately given and squandered by officials for the so-called military merits!" After saying this, Sui Gu couldn't help but laugh along with Yu Du - hehehehehehe.

(End of this chapter)