On this day, as usual, in the room in the east corner of the top floor of the Yihong Building, seven or eight gentlemen and wealthy merchants from Juzhou were sitting around a table, and each of them was accompanied by a young and handsome fan, which made this small cubicle look a little crowded. But these people obviously did not feel this way, they ate happily, drank wine, talked, and from time to time rubbed oil on the women next to them, and the women reciprocated with coquettishness, and the smell of wine, fat powder, and the laughter of men and women were mixed together, and the room was filled with a happy atmosphere.

But not everyone at the table is so happy, that is Zhao Laosan, I saw that he didn't speak, just drank the stuffy wine in one sip, and even the fan next to him didn't bother to take care of it, looking depressed. Seeing this, the person next to him smiled and said, "Zhao Laosan, why did you leave Sister Lian next to you aside and just drink by yourself, this is not like your usual style." “

"Yes, Zhao Sanye, you are a person who pities fragrant and cherishes jade on weekdays!" Another person chimed in.

"Zhao Sanye, today's high-ranking friends are full, it is the time to stretch your mind and speak freely, why are you drinking alone!"

Others interjected, but Zhao Laosan just poured glass after glass of wine into his mouth, as if he hadn't heard the people next to him speak at all, and the atmosphere on the table suddenly cooled down. A person who knew the inside story opened his mouth to persuade: "Zhao Sanye, although Liu Guerrilla is domineering, he only deceived Master Ma, and he dared to do whatever he wanted with his power." A few days ago, after Master Ma knew right from wrong, he killed his relatives and drove the rebel out of the house, in addition to his name in the family tree, then Liu Guerrilla has not been there for a few days, why are you still so sad? “

A few people next to him were ignorant, and they all opened their mouths to ask what happened. Just then, that person competed Zhao Laosan and Ma Rencheng for the position of director of the Pitang Bureau. Ma Rencheng asked Liu Cheng for help, and Liu Cheng led a team of soldiers to kill more than a dozen slaves who were sheltered by Zhao Laosan, and reported them to Lu Boqi as bandits, so frightened that Zhao Laosan returned home to recuperate. As for Ma Ziyi's kicking out of the house, there is no one in the house who doesn't know, so naturally there is no need to say more.

One person shook his head and hung his bookbag: "The fault of a gentleman is also like the eclipse of the sun and the moon: everyone sees it; What's more, everyone looks up to it! It turned out that Mr. Ma was for this to kick the second son out of the house. Sure enough, it is worthy of being the Ma family of the Shili heirloom! “

"But Zhao Sange's dozen lives can't just be lost in vain, now there is no Ma family to protect them, let's go to the yamen to beat the drum and shout grievances!"

"Yes, human life is at stake! We can't afford to be bullied by a foreigner! “

"That's right, drive that Liu guerrilla away, that Ma Rencheng has no wings, and this Pitang Bureau is our brothers' own!"

Seeing that everyone was becoming more and more high-spirited, Zhao Laosan still didn't seem to hear anything, just drinking there by himself. Finally, someone couldn't stand it anymore, and shouted loudly: "Zhao Laosan, we are all for you, why are you still drinking and drinking, say something!" “

Zhao Laosan snorted coldly, pushed the wine glass to the side, and said coldly: "You are not standing up for me!" I don't need you to stand up for me! You don't have what it takes to stand up for me! “

Zhao Laosan's three words suddenly became cold, and everyone got up and left. Many people naturally said something unpleasant, but Zhao Laosan didn't seem to hear it at all. Just drink your own wine, and in the blink of an eye, the room that was still crowded just now becomes empty. Zhao Laosan drank all the wine in the cup, and was about to get up and leave, but saw a person sitting opposite, looking at him. I couldn't help asking, "Solomon, why don't you go with them and discuss the idea of how to fight the Pitang Bureau?" “

Na Solomeng, a young man of twenty-seven or eight, hesitated for a moment and replied, "Third Master Zhao, I always feel that things are not as simple as they seem to be on the surface. ”

"Oh?" Zhao Laosan laughed: "I didn't expect that there was someone in this room who understood besides me." Okay, okay, okay, we two people who understand need to have a few drinks! As he spoke, he picked up the wine jug and poured a glass of wine for himself and Solomon, and brought the wine glass to each other, Suo Luomeng carefully took the wine glass and drank a glass with Zhao Laosan, but he was a little anxious, coughed, and his cheeks were flushed.

"Here, fill it up for you, let's have another drink!" Zhao Laosan seemed to be drinking, and poured a full amount to Suo Luomeng with a smile, and touched the wine glass with the other party, Suo Luomeng had to drink the wine again, he was afraid that Zhao Laosan would force him to drink again, so he hurriedly put the wine glass behind him: "Zhao Sanye, the amount is shallow, can you drink it later?" “

"Okay, we'll wait!" Zhao Laosan smiled and put the wine jug on the table and asked, "Then why do you think those people can't succeed?" “

"They are not aligned, they say that they want to stand up for Zhao Sanye, but they all have the idea of the Pitang Bureau in their hearts, but there is only one position in charge of the Pitang Bureau."

"Well, there's some truth to that!" Zhao Laosan nodded, and suddenly smiled: "But according to me, even if they are united, they will not succeed." Speaking of this, Zhao Laosan sighed, with a self-deprecating wry smile on his face: "Before this incident, I was like them, and I felt that this Shanzhou was the world of our gentry, as long as these people within us negotiated, even if it was the governor and the governor, we had to give us three points on the three-point land of the acre in Dunzhou." In retrospect, it's ridiculous, ridiculous! “

"Isn't that so?" Solomont asked rhetorically with some surprise, it can be said that Zhao Laosan's ideas are very representative among the gentry of the Ming Dynasty, and they are consistent with the facts for most of the time in the Ming Dynasty, so it is no wonder that he has this kind of thought.

"Maybe it used to be, but it's not anymore, the way of the world has changed." Zhao Laosan showed a sad wry smile on his face: "This is thanks to that Liu Cheng, if he hadn't woken me up by cutting off more than a dozen heads in one go, I would still be in a dream now, and I don't know how I died." "That Liu Cheng you say? It's just a matter of fighting the power of the Ma family, even if it is a general or a general soldier, it is not for nothing that someone picks off the official robe with a piece of paper, let alone a guerrilla? “

"That's in the past!" Zhao Laosan sneered: "The world is going to be chaotic, the next thing is for the court to beg these Qiu Ba, not Qiu Ba to beg the court, as long as you have soldiers at hand and can fight, the court will have no way to take you." Whatever you do will be perfunctory for you. It's easy to pick up the official robe, but if his soldiers are reversed, what will the court do to clean up the mess? The excerpt of the imperial history or the edict of the celebrant eunuch? ”

"How so, can't it be?" Solomon was frightened by Zhao Laosan's astonishing words. For modern people, the Ming Dynasty is just one of the many ancient Chinese historical dynasties recorded in the history books, and those who are familiar with history can even casually say that this dynasty has a few years to live. But for the Ming gentry like Solomon. His grandfather and father lived under the rule of the Ming Dynasty, his grandfather's grandfather also lived under the rule of the Ming Dynasty, his grandfather's grandfather still lived under the rule of the Ming Dynasty, this great dynasty has encountered all kinds of difficulties, but they have all successfully survived, why will this dynasty not rule forever, at least in his lifetime Solomon?

"What's impossible?" Zhao Laosan leaned closer to Suo Luomeng and whispered, "You know what? Just a few days ago, the guerrilla He Renlong in Yansui Town led the troops to attack Shen Yikui and Bu Mu, who were recruited, and killed the two people. More than 1,000 people were killed along with the henchmen of the two people. ”

"So what?"

"He Renlong sent troops without authorization!" Zhao Laosan's voice suddenly raised: "Governor Yang has always wanted to be appeased, he He Renlong killed Shen Yikui like this, and he didn't get muddy, which of those who were recruited can still feel at ease?" What other thieves would believe in the court's appeasement? ”

Suo Luomeng was frightened by the content of Zhao Laosan's words, and he asked in a low voice: "Then, then, what should we do?" ”

"Wait! Look at how Governor Yang cleans up this He Renlong, if he can kill He Renlong, then there is still some hope for the situation; If he takes Herenlong, there is no way. The world is going to be really chaotic then, and it's okay to be domineering like this. Who would take Shangguan seriously? Speaking of this, Zhao Laosan sighed and said to Suo Luomeng: "If the world is really going to be chaotic, let's follow the Ma family to join Liu Guerrilla, he can grab money and train soldiers, he is a character!" “

"But Mr. Ma didn't just kick the second son out of the house. Also removed from the family tree? “

"Phew, Ma Lao'er is playing the trick of betting on both sides again, he is reluctant to give him the benefits that Liu Cheng will bring him, and he is afraid of causing trouble to his family, so he pretends to do it. kicked the second son out of the house, and if something really happened in the future, it would be good to shirk it. Think about it, if he really wants to cut off contact with Liu Cheng, Ma Rencheng can still go out of the Ma family? He can deceive the blind people with his eyes open and blind like this! “

Hearing Zhao Laosan say this, Suo Luomeng's face couldn't help but turn red, obviously he himself was also within the range of the blind man in Zhao Laosan's mouth, he thought for a while and asked, "Then what should we do now?" “

"Wait, don't move!" Zhao Laosan replied: "If the world is really going to be chaotic, the first thing is to build a village for self-protection, there is more grain and salt, and the wall of the village must be repaired well, which can be done behind the scenes." Then you have to pick a good master, this is not in a hurry, don't forget, the early bird has worms to eat, the early worms are eaten by the birds, we are worms, not birds! ”

Shaanxi, Guyuan, Trilateral Governor's Palace.

"He Renlong, this bastard thing, the overall situation of the northwest is bad in his hands!" At this time, Yang He had long lost his usual reserve, he swept the four treasures of the study on several cases to the ground with a wave of his arm, and shouted to Zhao Wende, who was standing aside: "Jiansheng, quickly draft an excerpt for me, I want to take it down, and engage in military law!" ”

"My lord, this matter needs to be cautious!" Zhao Wende did not obey his fate. According to the political system of the Ming Dynasty, a feudal official like Yang He naturally has the power to deal with his subordinate officials at the right time, but generals like He Renlong, who have entered the senior military attache class, can not be killed at will, usually take him down and remove him from his post first, and then ask the court for approval, after all, He Renlong has not rebelled or lost the battle, and Yang He has not been given the authority of Shang Fang Sword to dispose of this kind of temporary disposal.

"Prudent? This guy is arrogant and arrogant, and he is good at killing generals! Destroy the overall situation of the imperial court! I can't wait to eat its flesh and sleep its skin, how can I be cautious? Yang He was already extremely angry, he rushed to Zhao Wende and roared loudly.

"Your Excellency, please stop your anger!" Zhao Wende said in a deep voice: "He Renlong is not punishable, but the northwest border army owes two or three years of salary, and the less owes seven or eight months. ”

Hearing Zhao Wende's advice, Yang He's anger gradually calmed down, as Zhao Wende said, at that time, the arrears of salaries in the Northwest Ming Army were already a very common phenomenon, and the sergeants and soldiers of the army were generally living in hardship and unstable. Under such circumstances, rashly taking down a brave general like He Renlong, who holds military power, will it provoke his cronies in the army to mutiny? That will enable a large number of veterans and grassroots officers of the border army with rich military experience to join the ranks of the displaced people who have not yet been completely quelled, and their combat effectiveness will be qualitatively enhanced. The harmfulness is self-evident.

"Jiansheng, what do you say should be done?"

"As seen by the following officials, He Renlong must be taken down as soon as possible, and he must also be punished canonically, only in this way can he redeem the hearts of those who have been appeased!" Zhao Wende said in a deep voice: "But you can't act rashly, you must leave behind if you want to achieve it, and prepare people who can stabilize the situation, so as not to let the unscrupulous people cause trouble!" ”

"What Jiansheng said is very true! We just messed up and almost broke a big deal, thanks to your reminder! Yang He clapped his hands and said, "Then who can stabilize the situation?" How about letting General Du Wenhuan Du take a trip? “

"Not good!" Zhao Wende shook his head: "There are two reasons: first, General Du is your right and left hand in controlling the army, and the current situation in Shaanxi is tight, and you can't leave Guyuan for a moment." Second, General Du's name is too big, and Nahe Renlong is not a fool, knowing that General Du is coming, he must know that he is here to deal with him, but he is afraid that he will prepare in advance. “

"Then who do you say you should send?"

"I think Liu Cheng and Liu Guerrilla are very good candidates."

"Him?" Yang He frowned: "Why did you choose him?" This person is indeed quite talented, but after all, his qualifications and prestige are shallow, and I have been exceeded all the way to this guerrilla, how can I suppress those proud soldiers? “

Zhao Wende said with a smile: "My lord, the people of Nahe will not be wary of the people of Nahe. This person is a powerful person, decisive in his actions, ruthless, and has a grudge against He Renlong, so he has no scruples when he moves. It doesn't matter if you can't control it, you can naturally calm it down by cutting off dozens of his heads. (To be continued.) )