Chapter 5: Picking Rose

Strange to say, although one is an official and the other is a thief, they have nothing to do with each other, and there may be a life-and-death struggle in the near future. **Chinese Network* Overspeed update of the latest chapter* () But at this moment, Cheng Mingzhen had the same hatred in his heart as Li Xu in the distance. He knew in his heart that he was also trying to restore peace to the party, and what Li Xu did seemed to be fearless, but in fact he encountered much greater resistance than himself. The three counties under his rule were all slaughtered by Zhang Jincheng, and it can be said that they have long become a blank land. Painting on a blank piece of paper, of course, you can do whatever you want. In the six counties where Li Xu is located, the power of the wealthy families is intertwined. That Boling chief seemed to be majestic, and he responded to every call. I am afraid that the undercurrent under my feet has already gathered into a river, and it will set off a stormy wave at any time.

If Li Zhongjian is overturned by local tyrants, it will undoubtedly be equivalent to removing a sharp sword hanging over his head that may be cut down at any time for the Xuzhou army. If Li Zhongjian gained a firm foothold in the six counties, whether it was for his own exhibition or to repay Yang Guang's kindness, the Boling army might move south and raze the green forest heroes in the southern counties of Hebei one by one. As one of the heroes of the green forest, Cheng Mingzhen is clear about the gains and losses. From the perspective of interests, his best choice now is to add fuel to the fire, send people to secretly go to the six counties of Boling to do some activities, and pour a scoop of oil on the fire of those big families who are about to move. But deep down, a strong voice told him that he couldn't do that, otherwise he wouldn't be at peace in his life.

The Great Sui Rebellion actually originated from the greed and ignorance of the wealthy families, rather than the excessive consumption of the country's strength by the three expeditions to Liao. As the son of a down-and-out petty officer, Cheng Mingzhen has a lot of different understandings of the troubled times in front of him. The three expeditions to Liao were fruitless, but the Great Sui Dynasty lost the strength to maintain order, and even if hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers and strong generals who died on the east bank of the Liao River were there, it was just a few years to postpone the arrival of the troubled times. The growing magnates are like giant trees growing in the wilderness, with no room for shrubs and weeds underneath. All the sunlight was blocked by it, all the rain and dew were absorbed by his criss-crossing branches and leaves, and the closer you got to it, the stronger the sense of oppression. If you can't dodge it a little, it's a dead end.

And the people are not weeds, although they are always called grass people. When they could not survive, they had to rise up and rebel. When the hatred that has been suppressed for many years explodes, the result is often just like what Zhang Jin said he had done in the past, frantically destroying everything that can be seen, and burning all the jade.

Therefore, from a certain point of view, Cheng Mingzhen even hopes to see Li Zhongjian's success in the six counties of Boling. If he and Li Zhongjian were to change places, he would also try his best to weaken the power of the wealthy families, pruning their criss-crossing branches to expose a few gaps, so that grass people like himself could see a ray of sunshine to survive. This is not done out of a deep sense of morality and responsibility, but because everyone does not have to destroy together. Almost any far-sighted ruler, whether from a green background or an official appointment from the imperial court, must take similar measures. The difference is that some people are softer and some people are stronger. Because this path is their only choice, although it is thorny step by step.

Huangya Bao obviously didn't have Cheng Mingzhen's deep thoughts, and when he saw that his boss didn't speak for a while, he thought that the other party was thinking about how to get benefits from it, so he leaned forward and suggested in a low voice: "My friend in the yamen said that someone in the north has contacted Yuan Baobao. If you want to ......"

"Ignore them, let's just wait and see!" Cheng Mingzhen's reaction was quick and strong. As if he was worried that his response would be slow, the people below would take action privately. "You can continue to pay attention to the movement over there when you go back, and report it as soon as you have a situation. But our brothers, no one is allowed to follow and mix. ”

"My subordinates understand!" Yellowtooth Bao Zhengse agreed.

"It's strange if you understand!" Cheng Mingzhen smiled and whipped him, "Do things well!" I have commanded that two hundred acres of good land shall be prepared for you. After returning to Ping'en, you can go to Du Lao's house to sign and claim it. But tenants have to figure it out on their own, and we've been understaffed. ”

Xie Jiaotou. Thank you, Leader! Huangya Bao agreed repeatedly, and the wrinkles on his forehead cracked. For him, who was born in a farmer, a piece of land belonging to him is more real than any gold, silver and jewelry. As for the tenants who farmed the land, it was not a difficult task. Outside the city of Wuyang County is the grass shed area where the homeless people gather, and if you throw a piece of naan, there will be more than a dozen strong men obediently following you.

"After the beginning of spring, Tuntian also needs manpower. If you have a way, you can get some more homeless people to come over! "Knowing what Huangya Bao has in mind, Cheng Mingzhen continued to command." You want to have a strong body, the kind that can replenish your vitality in a few meals. Don't take it from us if you're too old or too young. We have limited food and cannot do good deeds for the government. ”

"Subordinates can save it!" Yellowtooth Abalone gently arched his hand on horseback. After stumbling and stumbling over the past year, the top and bottom of the Zhaozhou Army have already found an effective experience in recruiting displaced people and cultivating land in the fields. Some of these measures may seem utilitarian, but they are rational choices that can continue the government of Tuntian in the long run.

"What else do you have to say besides the north?" After explaining the urgent tasks, Cheng Mingzhen continued to ask.

The smile on Huangya Bao's face disappeared immediately, and he was full of indignation again, "Isn't it all taking advantage of the fact that we have attracted the attention of the imperial court, and we can pick up as much as we can?" As soon as I think about it, I get angry, you said that Gao Shida, where is it like a green forest road. When the officers and soldiers came, he shrank into the bean hill. Let's defeat Zuo Wuhou with our front foot, and he immediately had the spirit again, and rushed out to attack the city and plunder the land! ”

"Pick up useful and say!" Cheng Mingzhen ordered with a smile. "We haven't used him as a boss. Naturally, people can't help us! ”

"That's right!" Huangya Bao shrugged his shoulders, his heart calmed down a little, and the expression on his face still looked very sour. "Gao Shida and Wang Bo have joined forces and have taken most of Bohai County. There are also Ge Qian, Liu Badao, Yang Gongqing and others, all of whom are now gathered under his banner. There are also some guys who are forgetful of their righteousness, who were originally mixed up behind Zhang Da's ass. Now he has changed to a tall master. It is said that there are almost 300,000 people in total, which is even more prosperous than when Zhang Da was the most prosperous last year! Before I returned, I heard from a passing merchant that after Gao Shida was ready to take all the plains, he would immediately ascend the altar and worship the heavens. It is said that the name has been thought of, and someone is sent to offer auspiciousness! ”

It's almost the same routine as Zhang Jincheng back then, and there are no new tricks at all. Cheng Mingzhen listened to the amusement, pursed his lips, and continued to ask: "No one reminded him, this is all the rest of our Zhang Da master?" After becoming emperor, did he expand to the north or to the west? ”

"No one has ever said where he is going. Anyway, at the door of our Zhaozhou Army, no one wants to play tricks! Huangya Bao looked down on Gao Shida and sneered. However, I heard that Gao Shida came out of Douzigang this time and left his powerful subordinate Dou Jiande at home. It is said that because he was in a hurry to become the emperor, there was a dirty dispute between him and Dou Jiande. ”

Mingzhen responded in a deep voice. I felt a little sympathy for Dou Jiande's experience. Zhang Jin said that the reason why he became more and more estranged from himself later may have a lot to do with his delay in making a clear statement on the matter of his claim to be king. In fact, the difference between being a king and not being a king is just a title, but people always regard it as extremely important. The strength in his hands is insufficient, what can he do if he becomes the king? Wang Subha, the lord of the Great Yan Kingdom, or "The emperor is not the same as before, is he forced to not even eat the grassroots?"

"This person, as soon as he gets proud, he can't tell the difference between good and bad!" Yellowtooth Bao smiled and continued to count Gao Shida's no. "Ge Qian, Wang Bo, Liu Badao, look at it, where is a good bird. If Zhang Da was willing to listen to your persuasion, he would not have been incited by these birdmen to find the north, and he would not have fallen into such a field today! Now, after inciting Zhang Da to take charge, they will take over and incite Gao Shida. Then Dou Jiande was just like you back then, saying a few loyal words, but he was suspicious! You see, one day Gao Shida is defeated, Wang Bo, Ge Qian and those guys must be running faster than the other. In the end, it had to be Dou Jiande who could save his life! ”

"Don't make analogies!" Cheng Mingzhen shouted in a low voice. "Douzi Gang is Douzi Gang, our side is our side. Zhang Da is in charge of last year, and he can't completely blame others! ”

Through the conversation with Huangya Bao, the current situation in Hebei has a basic outline in his heart. In addition, he didn't want to care about other nonsense, and he didn't have the heart to listen to it.

Huangya Bao didn't see the impatience on Cheng Mingzhen's face, and was silent for less than half a pillar of incense, and then began to chatter again: "It stands to reason that subordinates shouldn't talk too much." But you, the leader, are the backbone of our family, and we all hope that you will pay more attention to it recently. Some people don't know how to do anything at all, and the better you treat him, the greater the hatred between me. ”

"What do you mean?" Cheng Mingzhen turned his head sideways, his eyebrows locked. He actually understood what Huangya Bao was referring to, but he didn't want his subordinates to point too much fingers on this matter.

"The head of the sect understands in his heart!" Huangya Bao didn't dare to meet Cheng Mingzhen's gaze, his head was lowered, but his anger was very straight. "That person has been raised in Ping'en for a long time, and since he wants to leave, let him go. Everyone says that it is safer to follow you than to follow him. He kept going, and one day he suddenly began to give orders again, and it was troublesome for the brothers to listen, and it would be troublesome for him not to listen! ”