Chapter 5, the change of the county
After listening to Li Xin's words, Zu Zhao couldn't help laughing and sighing, "I didn't expect that only Brother Xianyan would win this year."
Li Xin shook his hand and said bitterly, "Brother Zu, don't say that. Now that something has happened in my hometown, my family's safety is uncertain, and I feel uneasy day by day. This feeling is very uncomfortable. Besides, I'm not the only one who stayed in the county. Do you still remember Tian Kaitian Zihui? He was also retained in the county. Earlier, Japan followed Captain Wen to go to Changcheng to suppress the thieves. Unfortunately, the former Japanese captain was defeated, and now I don't know how he is doing.
Zuzu Zhao sighed long, worried and silent.
After a while, Li Xin suddenly said, "Do you know who asked me to protect you this time?"
Hearing this question, Zu Zhao was quite surprised. According to Li Xin, it was not because the Taiping Dao uprising led to the defeat of Wen Chou and the county government was in crisis, so he recruited volunteers. In this way, there is another way to put the Buddha upside down.
He asked curiously, "Brother Xianyan, what does this mean?"
Li Xin smiled and said, "You don't know that although Liu Taishou was in distress, the old departments of the Taishou Mansion are still loyal to Liu Taishou's family. Nowadays, the Taishou Mansion is not empty. Liu Cheng, the eldest son of Liu Taishou, returned from the capital half a month ago, and the whole government elected Mr. Liu to preside over the big plan. Although Mr. Liu is a scholar and has no intention of managing government affairs, he can still take good care of his upper and lower levels with the assistance of several elders in the government.
Zu Zhao did not expect such a case. During the Three Kingdoms period, it was indeed normal for the emperor to dominate the party and his son to take over the father's office. It should be said that the originator of this phenomenon was Liu Yan, the current assassin of Youzhou. However, it is not the Three Kingdoms at present. The family political system at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty has not yet taken shape. How can the Liu family in Youbeiping County be so closed?
He thought silently for a while and then asked, "Why, shouldn't this Mr. Liu want to protect me?"
Li Xin shook his head and said, "Not really. The reason why I tell you this is just to tell you that the Taishou Mansion still has prestige in the county, including the two captains in the north and south who are loyal to the Taishou Mansion and represent the county government of Liaoxi County, which is just a scene.
Zu Zhao nodded, but didn't say anything. He was still waiting for Li Xin to answer his question just now.
After a slight pause, Li Xin continued, "Actually, this time it was the third lady of the Taishou Mansion who ordered me to protect you."
Zu Zhao had no impression for a moment and said doubtfully, "Miss San? Why is there a third lady?"
Li Xin laughed and said, "Have you forgotten? Didn't Liu Taishou invite the third lady to stroke the piano at the Taishou House dinner that day? After that, something suddenly changed, and you finally saved Miss San.
Hearing Li Xin's mention, Zu Zhao just remembered it. He slowly nod his head, seemed to understand a little, and said, "So it is. Didn't Miss San remember that I saved her that day, so she also wanted to save me this time?
He felt that this matter was a little embarrassing. After all, he was not the first to rescue Miss San in the Taishou Mansion. In the real sense, Miss San was still very important and was not shot dead by the assassin's arrow on the spot.
Li Xin said, "I think it should be like this. Of course, in addition, your ancestors really need to contribute. Now that Taiping Road is openly rebellious, the whole county is not at peace, the Wendu lieutenant is newly defeated, and the county government is short of soldiers. Presumably, Zhang Wan in Changcheng will definitely gather traitors and unite with Taiping Road to try to invade the county government. At least you have a reputation in the county, and you have many experience in fighting with thieves. You are really a rare talent.
Zu Zhao laughed and said, "I'm really ashamed that Brother Xianyan is so overestimated. However, if my brother really has a place to use his life, he will die.
Li Xin comforted: "You can rest assured that the Taishou government has already reported this matter to Ji County. Lord Liu, the assassin, must be able to understand the matter and judge the case clearly. No matter how difficult it is, you should clearly distinguish the priorities.
Zuzu Zhao restrained his smile slightly, sighed slightly, and then said, "I hope so."
After a day's journey, the group finally arrived in the northern suburbs of Pinggang County in the evening.
Now it is an extraordinary time, and the gate has been closed early. Li Xin arranged for Shen Yuan and others to rest in a pavilion outside the city and wait until dawn before entering the city. That night, Li Xin arranged a simple banquet to entertain Shen Yuan in Tingyi. He deliberately ignored Wang Wei, which was not only impatience with General Zhang's overwess, but also hated Wang Wei's own virtue. At the banquet, Li Xin said a good word for Zu Zhao and once again emphasized the current situation of Youbeiping County. After pushing the cup, Shen Yuan was completely relieved and said that the matter would be as flexible as possible.
At dawn the next day, as soon as the gate opened, Li Xin and all the people entered the city.
When passing by the city gate, it was clear that it was more strict than usual. The guards strictly checked all the people who entered the city to prevent thieves from sending insiders into the city. Li Xin showed the token and took everyone along smoothly. When I came to the county government again, I had a feeling that time had changed. The people I saw on the street were all in a hurry and indifferent. The original prosperity has now been depressed, and many shops and warehouses are closed.
The spring breeze in February is like scissors, and the trees and grass have not recovered from the harsh winter. From time to time, some dirty branches and leaves can be seen rolling with the wind, adding a little desolation and loneliness.
Zu Zhao saw the scene outside through the window of the ox cart, and couldn't help but have many feelings in his heart. As trouble was approaching, people were like ants, and the order under the Buddha returned to chaos.
As it gets closer and closer to the Taishou Mansion, you can even see groups of soldiers coming and going on the street.
According to Li Xin's introduction, a conscription camp was set up on a small street near the Taishou Mansion. Since Lieutenant Wen went to Changcheng, the Taishou Mansion has been trying to solve the problem of reserve troops. However, the current situation is not clear. First, the county government has limited financial resources and can't solve the food and fodder supply problem of too many soldiers. Second, the county is now turbulent, and Pinggang County is at the forefront of the storm. Many people in the county have left as soon as possible. The population loss is more serious and cannot recruit more soldiers.
Arriving at the Taishou Mansion, Li Xin first arranged for Shen Yuan and others to rest, and then hurriedly informed the house of relevant matters.
It was not until noon that Zhao Yu, the new county magistrate of the Taishou Prefecture, came to visit Shen Yuan and Wang Wei.
In terms of official titles, although Shen Yuan does not have the same rank as a county guard, his status in the state and county is still slightly higher than that of the county guard. What's more, there is no imperial guard in Youbeiping County at this time, which makes Shen Yuan Gan wait for nearly an hour, which is really rude. After Zhao Yu arrived, he quickly bent down to apologize to Shen Yuan. Xie said that there was a shortage of manpower in the Taishou Mansion and many urgent incidents in the county, so he was neglected. I hope Shen Yuanhai will forgive him.
Shen Yuan was originally unhappy, but after all, he was a person with status and demeanor. Seeing Zhao Yu's apology, he accepted it.
Zhao Yu first reported the current situation in the county to Shen Yuan in detail. Most of the content has been concisely described by Li Xinyan on the way to Pinggang. Zhao Yu's current words are nothing more than adding fuel and vinegar to make everything more critical. However, in addition, Zhao Yu finally said, "Yesterday evening, this county just received an urgent report from Xiyang County. Zhang Wan, a traitor, gathered a total of more than 5,000 rebels in Changcheng and the surrounding Taiping Taoist disciples, and was heading towards Xiyang County. I'm afraid he will attack Xiyang County in the next day."
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