Great Han Empire

Chapter 214
Ma Teng was so angry that he raised his whip and slapped Ma Jian more than a dozen times in one breath. He was still not relieved, so he rushed forward and kicked him a few more times.

"The fame of my Ma family has been ruined by your hands, you bastard." Ma Teng roared loudly, "I gave you 2000 people before I left. But now? How many people do you have for me now?"

"Big brother, big brother..." Ma Jian knelt on the ground, raised his bloody face, and shouted angrily, "The barbarians in northern Xinjiang bullied people too much, they were the ones who killed us first."

"I'll kill you." Ma Teng yelled furiously, "Who is Cheng Qiu? Heinous, unforgivable person, don't you know? What good can you do by following him? You act as Cheng Qiu's thugs , not only was scolded by others, but also my face was completely humiliated. You let me down so much. Not to mention the leopards in Beijiang, even I will kill you. Bastards, a bunch of bastards." Ma Teng became more and more angry when he thought about it. , rushed up and gave him another kick, kicking him into the air.

"Brother, what are you doing? How do you help outsiders? He is our brother..." Ma Yu hugged Ma Teng and shouted, "He stays in Hanyang, alone and weak, the governor called him What, does he dare not do it?"

"This kind of thing just can't be done." Ma Teng threw Ma Yu away forcefully, looked around at his subordinates, and said coldly, "This kind of thing just can't be done, and he would rather rebel than do it."

"Who is Meng Tuo? He is a bandit in Xiliang, the biggest bandit in Xiliang. In order to curry favor with the rich and powerful, he bribed eunuchs and scoured all parts of Xiliang for the anointing of the people. How dare you dig the ground three feet? Bring my Ma family's cavalry to guard the gate for him?" Ma Teng pointed at Ma Jian with the whip in his hand, trembling with anger, "You have lost the face of the eight generations of your ancestors."

A group of Ma Teng's subordinates felt very ashamed, and they all hung their heads in silence.Ma Jian knelt on the ground, suddenly realized that he was being used by others, and his heart was cold.

"The corrupt officials in Xiliang have done all kinds of bad things. These people have been doing evil in Xiliang for many years. We don't know. Why did Lao Bian and Mr. Wen Yue rebel? Why did Boyu and Li Wenhou rebel? Why? Are they trying to get rich? If it weren’t for these corrupt officials, there would really be no way out.”

"I want to kill them too, but I don't have the power. Now it seems that it's not that I don't have the power, but that I lack the courage. I, Ma Teng, am ashamed of my great reputation against my ancestors."

Ma Teng pointed to the big camp outside the city and shouted: "Who is killing the evil officials in Xiliang now? Who killed their people and ransacked their homes? Who reported to the people of Xiliang Are you angry with Qiu Xue? Are you blind? Don’t you even know right from wrong? "

The soldiers on the tower were blushing and ashamed at Ma Teng's scolding.

After Ma Teng received Geng Bi's letter in Anding County, he immediately returned to Hanyang with his army across mountains and mountains.On the way back, he heard about Li Hong's corruption in Xiliang, and he admired Li Hong's courage and courage.Xiliang's malignant tumor has never been solved, but it was cut open by a newcomer from northern Xinjiang.Then he got the news that his cavalry had been attacked in the Zixiu Mountain barracks.Ma Teng immediately felt the crisis.He knew that his army was being used by Geng Bi and his gang.He rushed back quickly, but was still a step too late.

Under the leadership of his cousin Ma Jian, the two thousand cavalry left by Ma Teng publicly intercepted and killed Li Hong's Fengyun cavalry, which annoyed the leopard.Yesterday, Ma Jian's army was overtaken by Li Hong, and there were many casualties.He desperately broke through and fled into Lueyang City.Dong Zhuo, who was stationed in the Zixiu Mountain Camp, received a call for help from the governor, Geng Bi, and immediately led his troops to support him.Ma Teng happened to arrive outside the city of Long County at this time, and when he received the news, he turned pale with fright, and immediately rushed into Lueyang with [-] cavalry without even paying a visit to Geng Bi, the governor.

"My Ma family has been loyal and good for generations, and everyone is strong and strong, how can there be a scum like you?" Ma Teng pointed at Ma Jian and scolded, "You have tarnished the reputation of my Ma family for hundreds of years. Someone, drag him down and kill him."

Everyone looked at Ma Teng in surprise.Ma Jian's eyes widened even more, and he kept shaking his head.He didn't believe that his eldest brother would kill him.

"My lord..." Ma Yu knelt down in front of Ma Teng in pain, and begged bitterly, "My lord, he was just being used by others, and his crime is not fatal. We warriors know how to kill people with swords all day long. How can we fight?" Overcome the cunning villain in the officialdom. My lord, he is your younger brother..."

Ma Teng waved him a whip, his eyes widened angrily, and he roared loudly, "I don't have such a person in my Ma family, I don't have such a brother in my Ma Teng..."

"My lord..." Everyone around knelt down.

Ma Teng raised his whip with his right hand to the sky, and shouted, "Ask the dead two thousand brothers, should this man be killed? How can we avenge this revenge?"

Ma Teng suddenly couldn't control his emotions, and tears rushed out of his eyes uncontrollably. He waved his hands and roared hysterically, "Tell me, tell me, who am I going to take revenge on... report..."

=
This time Li Hong led an army of [-] cavalry to attack the Wubao of Meng Tuo, the former governor of Liangzhou.Ma Jian didn't expect Li Hong to lead a huge army to Wubao to arrest people in a rage.Ma Jian was terrified, and while begging Geng Bi for help, he fled to Long County with Meng Tuo.They were overtaken by Li Hong's cavalry on the way. Eighteen hundred cavalry were slaughtered. Meng Tuo and his family were all arrested. Positive.

Li Hong's army was immediately intercepted by Dong Zhuo's army near Lueyang.

Li Hong originally wanted to make a big fuss and take the opportunity to build his prestige, so he couldn't wish for it now.He immediately ordered all the 4000 troops stationed in the Pingxiang camp to rush to Lueyang to confront Dong Zhuo's [-] troops.Now his army, including Xu Rong, Qu Yi, and Hua Xiong's Xiliang army, has [-] people and is strong.Li Hong's purpose is very simple, he is alone now, whoever wants to touch him, first think about the consequences, whoever wants to stop the corruption in Xiliang, first consider whether he has the ability.

Li Hong is the general of the Pinglu Zhonglang, who holds the festival and holds the military talisman in his hand. To be honest, in Xiliang now, except for Zhang Wen, there is really no one with more power than him.

In the big tent, while flipping through the documents searched from Mengtuowu Fort, Li Hong said to Yan Liang who was sitting beside him, "Zishan, the next time something like this happens, retreat first to save yourself and your brothers. If these things are gone, we can still torture Meng Tuo, if Meng Tuo doesn’t say anything, we can arrest another one, but you and your brothers only have one life, you know?”

Yan Liang nodded, "Thank you for your concern, sir."

Li Hong glanced at him, frowned and said, "Did you listen to what I said? Just because you are highly skilled in martial arts doesn't mean that all of your subordinates are highly skilled in martial arts. You are alive now, but where is your pro-Wei Tun?"

Yan Liang's face showed sadness, but he didn't make a sound.

"I know what you're thinking. You want to attack the city. But even if you kill all of Ma Teng's men, you won't be able to save the lives of your brothers." Li Hong stretched out his arms to hug him, and patted his thick chest hard. Shoulder, comfortingly said, "Although you are the army commander, you are already the leader of the army. You have nearly ten thousand brothers under your command. You must consider them first in everything you do. You are no longer my supervisor Cao. Once you kill him, you will never turn back." This time, if you retreat in time under the cover of the shooting tiger, the loss will not be so great, and the entire Qinwei Tun will not be wiped out."

Yan Liang bowed his head in silence, his eye circles were already red.

"Ma Teng is a descendant of Fubo General Ma Yuan. He is well-known in Xiliang. He is known for his uprightness, loyalty, bravery and skill in combat. He will not help the evildoers. We all know that Ma Teng has been in peace recently. His subordinates did it without telling him, so if we attack the city, it will appear..."

"I know." Yan Liang said, "We killed those who deserved to be killed, and we have avenged our brothers. I am responsible for their death, and I am very guilty. I feel very sad. I just want to sit here with you." .”

Li Hong smiled.

"I want to come back and be your bodyguard." Yan Liang said, "Zhengqing is more suitable to lead the army than me."

Li Hong smiled and said, "Okay. Now go and invite the three captains and Zuo Sima."

Soon, four of Xian Yufu walked into the big tent one after another.

"This arrest of Meng Tuo has yielded a lot. Now we have at least the evidence that Zhang Rang and Meng Tuo conspired to embezzle huge amounts of military expenditures and disaster relief supplies." Li Hong was very excited, and handed the relevant records to Xian Yufu. , Xu Rong and Qu Yi continued, "These things that Zishan exchanged for two hundred lives finally let us breathe a sigh of relief."

Qu Yi took a look and sighed, "If he hadn't witnessed it with his own eyes, who would have believed that the pious Meng Tuo was actually a huge greedy man. Judging from his wealth, wouldn't the traitor in the court be as rich as an enemy?"

"What's so strange about this is that the Han country is so rich that it has so many people." Zuo Yan said angrily, "There are so many moths, how can the country not perish."

Li Hong said with a smile: "There are too many corrupt officials in Xiliang, and we can't finish arresting them all. Meng Tuo has already confessed to several prefects who were at the same time as him. I sent Zheng Xin to check carefully, and they all live in Chang'an City. Yun Tian, In the afternoon you take someone to arrest him."

Qu Yi nodded happily, pointing to the file on the case table and asked: "My lord, will these evidences be sent to Your Majesty immediately?"

"Yes." Li Hong said, "Now we need to gain His Majesty's complete trust as soon as possible. Now, the treacherous eunuchs and bureaucrats in the court have been offended by us. They must impeach me every day and frame me. I have been careful for a long time. , His Majesty's confidence will be shaken. Once His Majesty orders me to be investigated, there will be no room for redemption, so I plan to let Brother Yuxing go to Luoyang with this evidence in person."

Li Hong looked at Xian Yufu, and said with a smile: "This evidence is too important to us, we can't make any mistakes. Brother Yu Xing will go in person, the safest way. It's just that Brother Yu Xing is tired."

Xian Yufu smiled and said, "It's nothing. I'll leave immediately."

Xu Rong said solemnly, "My lord, send a few brothers with high martial arts skills to follow Brother Yu Xing all the way, this matter cannot be sloppy."

Li Hong nodded, and said to Xian Yufu: "The Black Panther's justice is too obvious, I think Zilong and Zishan should go with you."

"That's good." Xian Yufu smiled, "It's enough to have the two of them. The other personal guards are not brought along, so as not to expose too many people."

Zuo Yan took out a square brocade box and handed it to Xian Yufu, and said in a low voice, "Liu Shangshu personally forwarded the memorial and evidence to His Majesty. You have to personally hand over the stolen goods to His Majesty, Mr. Zhou, the magistrate of Central Tibet, and Mr. Zhou Forward."

Xian Yufu glanced at Li Hong, and asked, "Can Master Liu believe it?"

Li Hong shook his head and said, "I want to make sure everything is safe. This is related to the lives of tens of thousands of people, so I have to be cautious."

=

Ma Yu took Ma Jian's head and was ordered by Ma Teng to go to Li Hong's camp to apologize.

After listening to Ma Yu's narration, Li Hong was very moved.Ma Teng is indeed a resounding man.

He asked Ma Yu to take Ma Jian's head back. He was already dead, so let's bury the whole body.

"My lord is going to take us back to Longxi."

Li Hong didn't care, and asked casually, "To the border?"

"My lord feels that he has done something wrong to the people of Xiliang, and has dishonored the reputation of his ancestors, so he is a little disheartened, so he resigns." Ma Yu sighed.

Li Hong was surprised and asked, "Will Master Geng agree?"

Ma Yu sneered, gritted his teeth and said: "He killed Ma Jian, Ma Wei, and our two thousand brothers. If my adults don't settle accounts with him, he will be lucky. He dares to say no." , Our brother killed him. This traitor will die in our hands sooner or later."

Li Hong nodded and said: "At that time, Geng Bi and Cheng Qiu sent your lord to Anding, probably with this in mind. They can freely control two thousand cavalry, of course they will do something bad."

"My lord, is that Cheng Qiu still alive?"

"Soon." Li Hong said with a smile, "he would rather die than die now, he is tortured every day, it's painful."

Ma Yu said bitterly: "If you want to kill him, your lord will let me know, and I will tear up Ling Chi's body to vent my hatred."

Li Hong nodded with a smile.

Ma Yu continued, "My lord, do you know who the biggest corrupt official in Xiliang is?"

Li Hong looked at him with great interest, and said with a smile: "This needs evidence. Otherwise, arresting people indiscriminately will break the law."

Ma Yu smiled slightly, took out a roll of bamboo slips from his pocket, and respectfully put it on the desk in front of Li Hong.

Li Hong hurriedly opened it, and exclaimed in a low voice, "Dong Zhuo."

=

After seeing off Song Dian and Zhen Ju, Zhang Wen hurried into the study.Gai Xun, Sang Yang, Tao Qian and Sun Jian had already arrived.

"Meng Tuo's arrest is enough to show that Li Zhonglang's thoughts are getting bigger and bigger. His eyes have already set his sights on the two thousand stone officials. The matter in Xiliang is out of control." Sangyang smiled wryly, "We have absolutely no Thinking, we have recruited a bloodthirsty beast from Jizhou." He paused, glanced at Zhang Wendao, "Roughly speaking, since Li Zhonglang massacred Zuo Chang's family in Chang'an, in the past ten days, all those who died because of corruption There are already thousands of people, and the scale of this corruption crackdown is beyond our control.”

"He must be stopped." Gai Xun said, "If we don't stop him, we will all be eaten by this leopard."

"How to stop it?" Sangyang spread his hands and said helplessly, "Li Zhonglang now has nearly [-] troops in his hand, and he also holds a soldier talisman in his hand."

"Li Zhonglang's method of suppressing corruption is becoming more and more bloody, and the scale is getting bigger and bigger. The Taiwei and we have long been unable to tolerate it, but because the army really needs money and food, and he needs to contribute to the suppression of the rebellion, so we are still pampering him. .”

"In addition, we have no way to remove his military power at present. It is too dangerous to forcibly remove his military power. If it is not handled properly, there will be troubles. No one can bear the responsibility. If we had known that things in Xiliang would become like this , I should have reported to His Majesty in the first place, asking His Majesty to take back his soldier talisman."

Sun Jian said: "At that time we considered using his power to check and balance Xiliang's army, so we kept ignoring the issue of the soldier talisman. Who knew that this soldier talisman has now become his life-saving talisman. We can't control his army, so there is nothing we can do about it." Move him. Now we can only rely on the emperor to personally issue an order."

Tao Qian smiled and said: "If the emperor wants to touch him, the traitors will have to go to the imperial edict. Now the traitors are helpless, let alone us. This matter has developed to the present, and it seems a bit mysterious. What exactly does your majesty want to do?" ?”

"Your Majesty's earliest meaning was that there was no money in the treasury and no military expenses for the Western Expeditionary Army. He asked us to find a way for the Xiliang people." Gai Xun said, "Before we figured out a way, Li Zhonglang started arresting people. We There is no way to save the situation, so we have no choice but to make mistakes and follow Li Zhonglang to make trouble, because Li Zhonglang's real intentions were not obvious at the time. Besides, his actions are still in line with our thinking, and also in line with His Majesty's intentions. But it is different now Li Zhonglang's arrest of officials with two thousand shi is definitely not a trivial matter. Without an imperial decree, Li Zhonglang would never do it, and he is not an idiot, he will die. If His Majesty alone gives him a secret decree, it will be to support him in suppressing corruption in Xiliang."

"Li Zhonglang openly led the army to arrest Meng Tuo this time, and his confrontation with General Dong is a clear proof. He neither reported to the Taiwei, nor informed the Taiwei's house, but acted privately. Without the support of the emperor, he dared to do this? "

Gai Xun sighed, "Meng Tuo is a member of Zhang Rang, and everyone knows it. Li Zhonglang arrested Meng Tuo, and Meng Tuo will naturally confess to the family bureaucrats to attack us. If Li Zhonglang leads people into Chang'an and wantonly arrests some people from Xiliang The former prefect, the matter is completely messed up. At that time, except for the emperor, no one can stop Li Zhonglang. The more people Li Zhonglang arrests, the more evidence, the more evidence, the more people implicated. The more people there are, the greater the amount of money involved. The emperor will definitely be furious when he sees these evidences. If he orders a thorough investigation, the disaster will be far greater than the disaster of the party. Once this matter If it involves the whole country, the blow to the Han Kingdom will be immeasurable, so we must stop him, and even join forces with the traitor."

The people in the room looked solemn, and even Tao Qian did not object this time.If the Great Han Kingdom falls into a wave of anti-corruption, and the various forces fight and bite each other, how many innocent people will die, and the blow to all parties in the government and the opposition will be fatal.

(End of this chapter)