golden scales

Zhu Cihong's purpose when he saw Niu Jinxing was hardly a purpose: that was to inquire about Li Zicheng's strategic intentions.As a high-level manager who ventured into the camp, and he is also a scholar with a small stomach, he must not be ignorant of his boss's subtle thoughts, whether overt or secret, otherwise he would not have the reputation of "one-time power minister".

Li Zicheng ascended the throne in a hurry under Niu Jinxing's instigation, and sent Zuo Fu and Niu Jinxing, a scholar of Tianyou Pavilion, to the Temple of Heaven to worship heaven. The next day, he abandoned Yanjing and fled to Xi'an.Li Zicheng was the emperor for one day, and Niu Jinxing was the prime minister for only one day.Even so, he still did not forget to use power to drive a wedge between Liu Zongmin and Li Zicheng, and forced Song Xiance away, so people say that he is "one power minister".

"So, isn't even Li Zicheng sincerely wanting to rebel?" Zhu Cihong looked at Niu Jinxing with a mocking smile.

Niu Jinxing put on an iron-boned look: "If the officials don't force you, why should the people rebel!" He had seen his captors walk by with a smile on his face before, and he knew that the crown prince had rewarded them heavily for this.Now that he has given a heavy reward, he can know his importance.At the beginning, Gao Yingxiang was also highly valued, but in the end he died Ling Chi... But he is still Zhu Chao—oh, Huangming's Juren, he should be treated differently.

——As long as you don't offend the crown prince, some backbone is probably better.

Niu Jinxing thought to himself.

"Officials force the people to rebel, of course, but some people are naturally rebellious." Zhu Cihong pointed to Niu Jinxing who was kneeling at the bottom of the steps, and said: "You are a man of fame, even if you were framed by a local gentry, wouldn't it be true? Don't know how to sue? You actually follow a thief!"

"Appeal? Officials protect each other, where to sue!" Niu Jinxing said stubbornly.

"Then under Chuangying's rule, if something like this happens, where will the complaint go?" Zhu Cihong changed the topic.

"Under the camp, there is no such thing!" Niu Jinxing said with a stiff neck.

"I'm not an ignorant person." Zhu Cihong stood up, glanced at Wu Weiye, then turned to Niu Jinxing and said, "Before Xiangyang was established, it was true that people did not pay food donations. After Xiangyang was established, you said that you would not pay food for three years. Gu I have to ask, where do hundreds of thousands of people eat horse chews, and where does the food and money come from?"

"Of course it's about recovering stolen goods..."

"Naturally, there are rich local wealthy people who are unkind and earn money in vain, but don't they get rich through hard work and become prosperous for many generations!" Zhu Cihong sneered: "You say that I am mean to the people, and the officials force the people to rebel. Is it just because I have more money? , Those wealthy households are not human? We, the emperor, are one body of officials and gentry, and it is certainly disgraceful to exploit the common people. Is it morality for you to loot houses and seize other people’s property?"

"Why cry all the way when a family is crying?" Niu Jinxing didn't dare to speak out to defend himself, and only used the famous words of Fan Zhongyan in the Northern Song Dynasty.

Zhu Cihong sneered and said: "Mr. Fan Wenzheng's words are out of justice. Could it be that he took the property of those corrupt officials? How about you? Wherever you go, you open warehouses to help the people and confuse people's hearts. The deputy emergency officer looks righteous! There is a little bit of publicity in this!"

Niu Jinxing has never studied class theory, nor does he believe that classes are immutable and irreconcilable.Although the original rebel army was seeking a way out, but the situation has developed to the scale it is today. Participating in the imperial examination or taking refuge in the Chuangying and Xiying has become the way to seek promotion. How can there be any public spirit?In fact, going back to the source, the original rebels were only seeking their own way of life, and did not include other poor people. Otherwise, how could they do things that make people block their swords with bare hands?

Seeing that Niu Jinxing was choking, Zhu Cihong looked at Wu Weiye again, saw that he was thoughtful, and slowed down his breath: "At the beginning, the Holy Son of Heaven cared but not suppressed, saying that 'thief is also my child', this is the king of the world. If you kill the vassal king, violate the mausoleum, set up a private government, and disturb the world, the crime may not be less than those corrupt officials! Today I will save your life, and I will return to Beijing in the future and hand it over to the judiciary Break it according to the law! Someone, take him down."

Niu Jinxing was afraid that this would be the last time he saw the prince, and he wanted to shout something, but in the end he just closed his mouth tightly, with a layer of despair gradually appearing in his eyes.

Zhu Cihong picked up the teacup and took a sip, then glanced at Wu Weiye: "Mr. Wu, do you think what I said just now makes sense?" Wu Weiye was about to speak, but Zhu Cihong followed up and said: "Lu Xiangsheng said a long time ago: the people follow Thieves, because there is no food to eat. Soldiers follow thieves because they don’t pay. My 270-year-old foundation in Huangming is nothing more than a little bit of trouble right now. What’s the big deal? As long as you work together and work hard, you will be fine in a few years It's still a peaceful dynasty."

"What Your Highness said is true." Wu Weiye said helplessly: You have already talked about this point, what else should I say?

"Don't tell me what I said," Zhu Cihong said with a smile, "this is the only way to be fair."

Min Zhanlian followed Zhu Cihong only as a bodyguard, he didn't speak, and couldn't help muttering in his heart when he heard the words: This Mr. Wu is really young and ignorant, it's a waste of time for him to get the second place in the exam!Whether the prince sees Niu Jinxing or tells you these things, isn’t it just for you to write an article and spread it to the world?Why is it so hard?

Wu Weiye also heard some implication, and asked cautiously: "Your Highness means..."

"I'll just talk about it, it's not interesting." Zhu Cihong didn't bother to say anything, and only let Wu Weiye figure it out by himself.

After all, Wu Weiye still didn't understand his position and role in the East Palace, thinking that he was just writing a memorial for His Highness the Crown Prince.As everyone knows, there are still many things that are not suitable for the prince to say, and someone needs to pass them on.

For example, comparing Huang Ming with the intruder today, how can this kind of tone make the prince stand in front!Only one seemingly neutral and objective person said that the imperial court could not only show magnanimity by not pursuing it, but also use it to attack the argument among scholars that "surrendering Li Chuang is the destiny of destiny", so that those places who have heard the news and surrendered will keep the pastoralists. Officials carry moral baggage.

After all, Wu Weiye didn't understand what the prince meant, but felt that the last sentence sounded too boring.He thought to himself: Forget it, since you are not interesting, I am even less interesting.It is really boring for a thief to talk so much to him.

"Your Highness! Liu Zongmin has woken up!" The doctor in Qingshan came in to report.

Zhu Cihong's spirit lifted.

He did not return to the city immediately, but was waiting for news from Liu Zongmin here.The biggest result of this battle was the capture of Liu Zongmin, although he was already seriously injured when he was captured, and almost returned to hell.Fortunately, the Qingshan doctor who accompanied the army had a deep study of the injuries on the battlefield. He cleaned the general Quan with his hands and feet, and applied the new golden sore medicine prepared by the East Palace with garlic and honey. Thread sutures the wound.

The traditional sore medicine in the past was mainly aimed at promoting muscle growth and hemostasis, while taking into account the use of some bactericidal Chinese herbal medicines.However, Donggong New Medicine uses sterilization as the main method, using the natural broad-spectrum sterilization effect of garlic and honey to prevent wound infection and increase the survival rate.

Liu Zongmin has a good physique. Although he was seriously injured, he woke up after two or three hours of treatment.

"Your Highness, Liu Zongmin has lost too much blood, and I'm afraid he won't be able to speak for a while." Qingshan doctor said.

"I'll go and see him." Zhu Cilang stood up with a smile and said, "It's a surprise this time, Li Zicheng's No. 1 civil and martial arts has been captured. I don't know if he will feel it when he is on the front line."

The people around him just laughed along, not daring to comment.

Zhu Cihong didn't care either, turned around and walked outside.

Liu Zongmin was seriously injured and couldn't help being turbulent, so Qingshan Doctor temporarily opened a small treatment center in the place where Liu Zongmin was found. It was just a two-story tent to prevent the cold, and there were bloodstains left by the previous fierce battle on the ground.This kind of high-level treatment is the embodiment of Liu Zongmin's value.

After Zhu Cihong saw Liu Zongmin lying on the bed, the joy in his heart had faded a lot.He knew that Liu Zongmin couldn't speak, so he didn't speak.

Liu Zongmin woke up from the darkness and vaguely saw lights, but he couldn't move, thinking that he had arrived in the underworld.He didn't realize that he was still on the battlefield and had already fallen into the hands of officers and soldiers until he heard someone say that he wanted to invite the prince.

——Could it be that the prince of the Zhu family is really here?

Liu Zongmin just moved his head slightly, and the pain was as if he had been punched by someone. He could only let go of his distracting thoughts and torment between sobriety and nothingness.

Zhu Cihong watched Liu Zongmin stare blankly at him, but thought in his heart: How should such a huge victory be used? (To be continued.)