After the beginning of spring, the examination was over, Guo Zhang walked out of the examination room and walked on the street, really feeling that he was recovering from a serious illness. The strong sunlight shone on the pale faces, as if the whole street was shaking and dizzying. The people on the street looked at this group of "protégés of the Son of Heaven" who came out of the examination room with speculative eyes, and wondered which of them would become the Optimus Prime of Qi State. They look forward to the peace of the country and the people.

Guo Zhang stumbled back to Jiyi Building. It's the time when the card is not played. Lu Qixiang took the guys to greet him at the door of the store, and when he saw him, he hurriedly stepped forward and said: "Congratulations to Guo Ye, this time I am going to take the lead--why I don't take a sedan chair, just walk back?" As he spoke, he asked the guys to fetch hot water and let him wash his face and feet.

Guo Zhang smiled reluctantly, then sat down next to the counter, and said, "Thank you Jiyan, after a few days, I wanted to breathe through the wind and slip my legs, so I walked back." As he was talking, Li Zhi came out from behind with a smile and hurriedly stepped forward to salute.

"You finished quickly, how did you do in the exam?" Li Zhixiao poured tea for Guo Zhang, and asked someone to prepare some wine and food to celebrate.

Guo Zhang didn't drink tea either, and said with a wry smile, "This time I poured a broken jar and gave him an article "On the Corruption of Officials and the Chaos of the Country"

When the crowd heard him say this, they couldn't help but be stunned. Lu Qixiang hurriedly said: "Okay, my Guo Ye, how can you poke the hornet's nest." How can a candidate like you talk about corruption? If you take fame, don't worry about corruption or not! Weimiao, Wei Qiao also stomped his feet anxiously and said: "You are too Geng Jie, this will suffer!" ”

"Originally, I didn't want to write like this, but the recent events have made me too swoon, and I nodded my head as a whole, and I am not even as good as a slave for a little fame!" Guo Zhang wiped his face with a warm towel, and said, "Chatting with Mr. Li Zhi in the past few days has also benefited me a lot, and I have opened up a lot, my husband is alive to do something, how can I make a living secretly, the wind of corruption is not eliminated, the country is not peaceful, I am willing to be the first person!" ”

"Some of Mr. Li Zhi's opinions are also very good, so I simply wrote them all in, and I hope Mr. won't be surprised." Speaking of this, Guo Zhang's face was quite proud, "I want them to read it, such a occupation of people's land, forcing the people to go up the mountain to be thieves, and entering the city to be thieves, is it considered a disaster for the country and the people!" ”

Li Zhi just smiled, "Where, where, I'm just some superficial words, just gossiping, it's good to be able to help you." He picked up the brewed tea and took a sip, "The country should be allowed to speak out." You don't have to worry too much either. ”

Lu Qixiang secretly complained in his heart when he heard this, shook his head and said, "The imperial court? Now General Cao Ze is the imperial court! Those officials dare to be corrupt and don't rely on his prestige, you also have to find the right time for this advice, but Lord Xue Bilong is the main exam. Such a strategy roller shutter officer may not dare to show it to the above! ”

When Guo Zhang heard this, he was also a little uneasy in his heart, and most of the high-spirited spirit just now had disappeared, and he couldn't help but be a little annoyed by his momentary excitement, not thinking about the seriousness of the consequences, his life was a trivial matter, and it would not be good to affect his uncle and the Guo family.

Li Zhi saw Guo Zhang's anxiety and said with relief, "The wood has become a boat, this is the time, the luck, the fate, and the number." Whatever you want, let it be! ”

"I'm just afraid of implicating the clansmen, and I'm a trivial matter myself." Guo Zhang said.

"In this case, it's better to stay with me first, if there is really any accident, it will be easier to find no one at Lord Guo Zhaozhi's house." Li Zhi said, "After all, he is a household servant, a member of the imperial court, so it will not be so easy to implicate." “

Guo Zhang thought that there was only one way to do it now, and arched his hand, "I'm going to trouble Brother Li again." ”

"Where, if you really have a prosperous day, don't forget me." Li Zhi quipped.

"I hope so." Guo Zhang was still frowning, "Borrow your auspicious words, I'll go rest first." "It's like losing my soul.

"This Guo Zhang's talent is there, but he is too reckless." Li Zhi looked at Guo Zhang's back, "But it can be used by me, it's a good chess piece." ”

"Is this a temptation? It's just a little too risky. Lu Qixiang was a little worried.

"Wealth and danger are begging." Li Zhi banged on the table again and again, as if thinking about something, "Today, the king and Cao Zexiao say that they must always stand aside." ”

"Now most of the soldiers and horses of the Qi State are in Cao Ze's hands, and most of the generals are his protégés and henchmen, and there is Xiao Yan to help the clan, so the chances of winning are better." Lu Qixiang thought about it and said.

"People can't look good, I think what Xiao Shu has done in recent days is definitely not a thing in the pool. He can definitely see this exam paper, and I would like to see how much energy he has. "Li Zhi is a little playful" Besides, this is not so simple, let's wait and see. ”

A few days later, Xie Lan came to see Xiao Zhen, and as soon as he entered the hall, he said with a smile: "Your Majesty, I got Guo Zhang's scroll!" As he spoke, he took a roll from his sleeve and presented it with both hands. Xiao Zhi hurriedly opened the package and unfolded it. The frontispiece of the volume is thick and heavy, and the five words "On the corruption of officials and the chaos of the country" are impressive, and I can't help but raise my eyebrows and say: "Good words! ”

"It's also dangerous", Xie Lan hurriedly said: "Lord Xue Bilong listened to your orders, concealed the deputy chief examiner, and went down to investigate privately room by room, and even the room official withdrew before pulling out of it......"

Xiao Zhi listened to him chatter while unfolding the scroll and reading it carefully. He was fascinated by it, and when he took a cup of tea, he actually put his hand into the tea jar, scalded his hand, and said with a smile: "This is not in vain." - Come, come, read this to me! Xie Lan hurriedly took it carefully, bowed down and read softly:

The field is the foundation of health, and the five grains and cloths are all from the soil. The small people of Qianshou depend on it for food, the people rely on it for their livelihood, and the Zongmiao community depends on it for prosperity and strength. Now the corrupt officials are powerful, and everywhere they go, the fertile wilderness has turned into the land of elk, and the strange is born. The people are displaced, all industries are withered, those who are fierce and do not turn into bandits become thieves, and those who follow the law and are good are frozen and hungry. It is difficult for the imperial court to collect the grain of the treasury, and the discipline is not open; The three armies are suffering from famine, why use their lives? Who will calm down the internal and external troubles? The people's hearts are fluctuating, the country's foundation is difficult to consolidate, the people are resentful and angry, and the country will not be a country!

Thinking of this, Xie Lan breathed a sigh of relief, this article is not only off topic, but also changes the law to accuse the king and hundreds of officials, which is simply a big rebellion! Su Wan on the side didn't dare to squeak, seeing Xiao Zhi's expression as usual, pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back, listening with relish, he put his mind at ease and read him carefully.

Xiao Zhi thought for a while and asked, "Xie Lan, Guo Zhang is your cousin, what kind of person do you tell me?" ”

"He has been diligent and studious since he was a child, has outstanding talents, and is a grandson, the Guo family has high hopes for him, and they all ask the best masters to teach him to read." Xie Lan replied honestly, "It's just ..... It's just that my cousin has always been an obedient and respectful person, and this somewhat out-of-the-ordinary article, if it hadn't been paid to him, I wouldn't believe that he wrote it himself. ”

"I'm afraid that some people have influenced him a lot these days and made him a lot bolder." Xiao Zhi smiled and said, "But this article is from the bottom of my heart, it is a good article, and this Guo Zhang is also a talent." ”

"I'm afraid it's that benefactor Li Zhi." Su Wan said lukewarmly: "The last time the slave fought with him, looking at his kung fu and speech, he is not an ordinary person. ”

"That's it." Xiao Zhi said, "I'm afraid this article is also the result of Li Zhi's instigation, Li Zhi is probably testing my meaning, this person should not be underestimated, we have to draw him to our side." ”

"Shall I go to him, then?" Xie Lan asked.

"You can't go, there are rules on the rivers and lakes, so naturally you have to find people in the rivers and lakes to deal with it." Xiao Zhi waved his hand and said, "If you want to say that Guo Zhang is naturally the most familiar to you, but this Mr. Li Zhi is naturally Sister Awan, you find a chance to talk to him, just say that I am very satisfied with this article, and I will reuse Guo Zhang in the future to see what he means." ”

"Well, I'm going to meet him too." Su Wan agreed. "Then your identity as a king ......."

"I'm afraid he can guess it too, it's okay, it's just that you have to investigate his true identity carefully."

"I see." In fact, Su Wan was also very curious about that Li Zhi. "Leave it to me!"

"That's good." Xiao Zhi said with a smile, and then instructed Xie Lan, "Take this scroll to Xue Bilong first, and then put it elsewhere." If it leaks out, can Guo Zhang still have his life? Then let Xue Bilong find someone to write him an article, give him a reputation, and leave him in the capital. ”

"Yes."