In the end, most of them found a suitable position and officially integrated into the system of the New Western Liang Army. But there is one person who makes it quite difficult for Zhang Ji and others.

This person is called Bao Chu, the word Jiaocai, born in Zuo Fengyi Xinfeng County Shu clan, he was born tall, less for the ranger, in the township for filial piety, righteousness and self-improvement famous.

Together with his companions and four brothers, he came to the company for help, but the price of food was still too high for them to pay for a bucket of corn.

In the end, the companions responded to the call to serve these counties and townships, or joined the team of the Xinxi Liang Army to recover and merge the state in the future.

However, he said that "the incorruptible do not eat the food that comes from the mouth", and hoped to trade at a normal and affordable price.

After Zhang Ji heard about it, he personally rushed from the county seat to the bank of Zhengguo Canal to check the situation.

Bao Chu said that although he was not from the Shi clan, he was unwilling to eat the food that was given to him here, not to mention that he had to bend his waist and serve the Xinxi Liang Army.

He came here to see if the government would sell it at the usual price in times of famine, as Chang Ping did in the past. However, most of the merchants in Xiayang and Hedong are selling at high prices. Their prices are only slightly lower than those of Chang'an.

In addition, some members of the Four Seas Merchant Gang are here to act as intermediaries and guides. However, even if you contact the tun people who are willing to sell, the price is difficult to be less than half of the price in Chang'an. With his family's little money, it is difficult to buy enough food.

Bao was not willing to accept food or money from handouts, nor was he willing to do things that he should not have done.

After some negotiations, he had no choice but to let his other three brothers go home to take care of his mother, and stay with his younger brother alone to see if he could buy some food at a reasonable price.

Bao came out of this concept that "the incorruptible do not eat the food that comes to them", which is slightly difficult to understand in later generations. But in this era, it is indeed regarded as the standard of life by some noble scholars, rangers, etc.

Zhang Ji can understand Bao Chu's thoughts very well, and he combined Bao's experience as a ranger and his filial piety, and personally persuaded him, "The misfortune of my Han today stems from the chaos of the border and the chaos of the officials. This must be understood by Jiaocai. ”

"Letting everyone join in and give food here is very different from those who give food to their own families and make others lose money, or encircle people's land, or collect people's people's tribes."

"What's more, your mother and family are waiting for your efforts, and if they hear that you, or a few of your brothers, are restoring their homeland and developing the barren land for the sake of the border and the Han Dynasty, they will definitely be proud of you."

Bao Zhu was quite happy to see Zhang Ji, who was quite famous and noble, but after listening to what Zhang Ji said, he refused to say it with an equal attitude

"No, no. What Mr. de Jong said is indeed the right path, but it does not mean that everyone should act according to such guidelines. ”

"Tianxingjian, the gentleman is self-improving, and the gentleman is virtuous. Although Bao Chu was born as a common ranger, he did not dare to forget that he had to introspect himself every day and pursue a road to heaven and earth. ”

"What Mr. Fong De Jong said and what the Xinxi Liang Army did was that it was the right and glorious path to devote himself to recovering and annexing the state. For example, if you join you, you will be treated well, and if you keep it as it is, you will sell corn at a high price. ”

This is not the way of a gentleman, and it is very different from the principle of virtue. I beg your pardon for not agreeing with what Mr. de Jong said. ”

Zhang Ji was slightly stunned, such people are really becoming fewer and fewer in this troubled world. In terms of talent and civil affairs, he is already outstanding, but when it comes to morality and will, he still has too much room for improvement.

"The terrain is good, and the gentleman carries things with virtue. It is true that he is not resentful and tolerant of some people from the Dashi clan and people from ordinary backgrounds, and sometimes he recognizes a way and does not know how to adapt and think. ”

Suddenly, he thought of Tong Yuan, and felt that he was doing better than himself in this regard.

Under Tong Yuan's governance, he not only developed tuntian, but also did not squeeze small farmers. Some frontiers and mountains are occupied by Haoqiang and big clans, and if they are others, they may be bulldozed, but Tong Yuan is on good terms with them.

Scholars, Hanmen, Haoqiang, farmers, craftsmen, merchants, soldiers and even Hu people can all have a place in him.

And he didn't let these things get mixed together, established an effective system, and planned a clear direction. He himself is very self-reliant and grasps the theme of the times.

It's really amazing, is this the power of heaven and earth, the way of a gentleman?

While introspecting, he increased his admiration for Tong Yuan. And Bao Chu was left hanging there, and he was a little embarrassed, thinking that what he said was a little too much.

At this moment, Bao Chu, Bao Ya and his younger brother Bao Cheng, who had gone home first, rushed back and shouted in a hurry, "Oh no! Thieves came to his hometown and arrested his mother and neighbors! ”

Bao was shocked and asked, "When!?" What about Xinfeng's official mansion!? ”

The eldest brother Bao Chu said, "These thieves are very fierce, and they have escaped from the Xinfeng range in the northeast, and the county doesn't care." Only Qiang Fu and the Pavilion Chief led people to chase us to the north and ran into us. ”

In fact, most of these thieves are hungry villagers, who go to the countryside of the neighboring county to catch people they don't know for food.

The county government knew that if the situation developed, it would often develop into a large-scale villager fight, so he was reluctant to do too much. However, Qiang Fu and Pavilion Chief are mostly close to the countryside, and organize people to try their best to hunt them down.

Zhang Ji heard it on the side and said, "How can this be reasonable, since we are running to the north, we must not be far from here, we can help, but there is more information?" ”

The second brother, Bao Ya, said, "Qiang Fu is five miles away, but he hasn't found the thief yet. It is estimated that it will be on the east side of Zhengguoqu in the mountain. ”

After hearing this, Zhang Ji did not hesitate, and said, "I can send troops and horses to search east along the Zhengguo Canal, and as long as they enter our territory, they will definitely not be allowed to escape." If it is in a place that is not under our control, I am afraid that it will not be convenient for soldiers and horses to enter. ”

He didn't speak, and the youngest brother Bao He said, "By the way, I heard that the Four Seas Merchant Gang has always served the people, and they also helped find people to sell grain before, can you let them send people." ”

Zhang Jiyi stomped his foot and said, "I almost forgot." The Four Seas Merchant Gang has the function of protecting the people, they are not officials and armies, they are not involved in government affairs, and they can intervene in many things that are inconvenient for the government to participate in. ”

"And some of the officers of the Gui branch happen to be engaged in intermediary and security tasks here, and they can completely help you search and save people."

Bao Zhu and the others immediately thanked him, and after meeting with the five officers of the Four Seas Merchant Gang Branch, they hurriedly joined Qiangfu.

But the situation was much worse than they thought. Qiang Fu explained, "The thieves have found it, but there are more than 30 of them, and they are still armed.

"The dozen or so old peasants I was looking for didn't have anything to eat or weapons. Fighting with them is not an opponent at all, and you can't send dried meat thousands of miles. ”