Chapter Eighty-Seven: Listening to Slander and Turning Back

Xiao He led Fan Hao to see the county order, but when the county order heard that the law would be abolished first, he hesitated. Fan Xue said: "My lord doesn't even have this sincerity, how dare I summon my eldest brother here?" Cao Shen said: "Lord Zhao, since you want to do something, you should abolish the Qin Law, so that the people will support it?" Zhao County Ling agreed. Cao Shen announced the abolition of all the harsh laws and regulations of the Qin State, and wrote a proclamation to the whole city. Xiao He wrote another letter and asked Fan Hao to bring it to invite Liu Ji. Pei County was a sensation.

Fan Hao left Pei County, galloped all the way, came to Mangdang Mountain, and after seeing Liu Ji, he told him about the army, and handed Xiao He's letter. Liu Ji read Xiao He's handwritten letter, and was overjoyed, and said: "In the past, Zhang Yushi recommended Lord Xiao to enter the court as an official, but Lord Xiao was disdainful, and now he is planning an uprising, it seems that he not only has a benevolent heart, but also is very far-sighted. This is really the sky has eyes, we finally have a day to emerge! Then he immediately informed the chiefs of the major mountains, and gathered together three hundred chiefs and more than a thousand people. Liu Ji told them that they would raise an army against Qin. When the people heard that the army had been raised, they were so happy that everyone was eager to kill them down the mountain at once. Liu Ji gathered the people and horses, and then burned the cottage and went down the mountain in turn, and since then he has embarked on a glorious course of anti-Qin. Later generations called the mountain where Liu Ji had been active 'Yunlong Mountain', and the place where Liu Ji hid was called 'Huangzang Island'.

On the way down the mountain, Lu Pheasant told Liu Ji again: "The county order is capricious, and you have few people, I'm afraid he will look at you coldly after entering the city." Fan Xu glared at the side and said, "If the dog officer dares to look down on us, I will kill him!" Lu Pheasant said: "Fengyi is our hometown, since we want to raise troops, we should attack it first, and we can also replenish some soldiers and horses from there, so that they will not dare to do anything to you after entering the city." Liu Ji listened to Lu Pheasant's words, and first sent an order to Fengyi, first, to comfort his father, and second, to expand some soldiers and horses.

When Liu Ji came to Fengyi, the three old men had already opened the city gate to greet him. After Liu Ji entered the city, he first met the three old husbands, and then came to his home. When Mrs. Liu and her father-in-law heard that Liu Ji was going to rebel, they had to silently pray for him for peace. Liu Ji left Lu Pheasant at home to take care of his family. I also came to the pretending elm society in this village to pray, hoping to be blessed by the gods. After dinner, Liu Ji returned to the army. When the people of Fengyi heard that Liu Ji was going to raise troops, everyone was overjoyed and enthusiastically joined the army, and some old people even took out good wine and meat to encourage Liu Ji to work hard.

At this time, a man named Wang Ling came to meet Liu Ji, and Liu Ji was so happy when he heard that Wang Ling was coming, so he hurriedly ran out to greet him. It turns out that this Wang Ling is also a heroic man in Fengyi, he is the county lieutenant of Qin State in Nanyang, and he often meets Liu Ji because of official business, and the relationship is also very good. Because he was a few years older, Liu Ji treated him like a brother. When Liu Ji saw Wang Ling, he asked happily: "My brother is here today, is it to respond to the uprising?" Wang Ling said: "No, I heard that there is a lot of trouble everywhere, and I am very worried that something will happen to my mother, so I came to pick her up and go to Nanyang, but I didn't expect you to raise troops." You are an official of the Qin State, how can you do such a disobedient thing? If the imperial court sends a large army to conquer, I am afraid that there will be no good results, and I hope that the virtuous brother will think twice before acting? Liu Ji replied angrily: "I know that my brother is loyal to the Qin State, but I am different, I let go of three hundred guards in Fengxize, and the Qin people hate me to the core." Chen Sheng is not opposed, I will never come out, now Chen Sheng is the first to rebel, Zhao County Ling also responded positively, he also specially invited me to help, this is a golden opportunity, I will not lose it easily! Although your Nanyang is still stable for the time being, there have been uprisings in all parts of Shandong, and the Qin State will be finished sooner or later, so please ask my brother to think about what to do in the future, right? ”

Wang Ling sighed and said: "I also know that the implementation of Bao government in the Qin State is very unpopular, but I have eaten Qin Lu for a long time, how can I bear to betray it?" Passing by here today, I came to advise my brother because of my friend's affection. But now that it's come to this, do you have to do it yourself? After Wang Ling finished speaking, he said goodbye to Liu Ji. Liu Ji said: "Brother is slow, let me meet my aunt." Wang Ling led Liu Ji to the side of the road to meet his mother. After Liu Ji saw his mother, he saluted and said, "In the past, my aunt used to teach my generation with the word 'faithful', and I really benefited a lot!" Today, I was invited to join the army as a last resort, and I hope that my aunt will understand my suffering. Brother Wang Ling and I grew up together, we are like brothers and sisters, and your teachings in the past seem to be still in my ears. Now my aunt is going to travel far away, thinking that in the future, the clouds and mountains will be blocked, and I don't know if we can see each other again? After saying that, he burst into tears. Ling's mother also said emotionally: "The virtuous nephew is an outstanding son of his hometown, and his kindness is widely spread. I heard that you have released three hundred poor children in Fengxize, and they will be grateful to you. Starting today, I hope they can help each other, and I also hope that the virtuous nephew can make great achievements and make achievements as soon as possible! Liu Ji said: "Aunt earnestly admonished, nephew must not dare to forget!" So he helped Ling's mother get into the car, and then knelt on the side of the road and watched them go away.

Liu Ji sent Wang Ling away, returned to the door of the official residence, and suddenly saw Zhou Bo leading Lu Ze, the eldest brother of Lu Pheasant, and the second brother Lu Shizhi also came to join the army. After a while, Fan Xu led Yongya, Wang Su, Xue Ou, Tang Li, Chen Yi, Zhou Ju, Chen Cang, Chi, Zhu Bi, Zhu Tong and others to join the army, and Liu Ji met everyone one by one. It turned out that most of these people were young children who had been let go in Fengxizawa before, and although they ran back to their homes, they did not dare to live at home, hiding during the day and only daring to go home at night, and often lived a life of fear. Now that he heard that Liu Ji was going to raise troops, he was relieved to boldly come to join the army, and Liu Ji included them all. At this time, the fathers and villagers in Fengyi City also rushed to tell each other and responded positively, and they also encouraged their children to join the army, and the army increased to more than 2,000 people. Liu Ji was very happy, so he led everyone to Pei County.

In Pei County, the two officials who were whipped by Fan Xu, because of their resentment against Fan Xu, ran to the prison in Pei County one day and told Wei Cai that they were beaten by Fan Xu for no reason. Wei Cai was surprised when he heard this: "Fan Hao is the key criminal who was arrested, how dare he come to the county?" The two told Wei Cai that Zhao County's order was going to summon Liu Ji back to raise troops. Wei Cai was shocked when he heard this, and asked whose idea it was. The official messenger told him that it was Xiao He's idea. Wei Cai was so frightened that he was afraid that Liu Ji would come back and be retaliated against for molesting Lu Pheasant, so he said: "Liu Ji is an important criminal of the state, and he has been a robber since he was a gangster in Fengxi, and the county guard has sent troops to arrest him many times. Now Zhao Xianling is really confused, how can he listen to Xiao He's words and reuse Liu Ji? If that's the case, Pei County won't be Lord Zhao's! The two officials asked, "What do you mean by that?" Wei Cai said: "Do you think that Liu Ji and Fan Xu's gang of people usually hate Zhao County?" If they come to the city, will they be able to listen to Lord Zhao? If Lord Zhao is a little disobedient to them, they will disobey the order, and if they don't get it right, they will turn against them! The second official said, "Why don't you tell the county magistrate about this?" Wei Cai said: "I'm in prison, how can I see Lord Zhao?" The second official said: "We will go to meet the county magistrate now, tell him that you have something important, and ask him to summon you immediately." Wei Caixi said: "If Pei County has a bright future, it is all the credit of the two!" ”

The two officials came to visit the county commander and said: "The little ones passed through the prison occasionally, and Lord Wei Cai said that there was a confidential matter to report. "The county magistrate said what happened to him. The two said: "He said he didn't dare to say it until he saw you." The county magistrate was very puzzled, so he asked someone to release Wei Cai. Wei Cai came to the mansion and saw that the county commander couldn't kneel, and said sadly: "I heard that the lord wants to betray Qin Yingchu and recall Liu Ji, is this true?" The county magistrate said: "Yes, that's right." Wei Cai said decisively: "Lord Zhao, don't you know what kind of person Liu Ji is?" The county commander said: "How can I not know, but this time it is my decision, and I will use his name to order the children of the whole county." Wei Cai said: "'Covering one's ears and stealing the bell' is a way to deceive oneself and others, and 'fighting fires with a salary' is the beginning of self-destruction." Not a single small thing can be like this, let alone a national event? Now you are in charge of the affairs of a county, and you are in charge of the life and death of the people of the county, so as long as you are the leader of the rebel army, it is most suitable, but why do you want to find someone else to be the leader? ”

The county commander said: "You mean that I should be the commander of the army?" Wei Cai said: "Isn't it? If an adult uses someone else, this is the principle of 'giving someone a handle'? Think about it again, what kind of people are Liu Ji and Fan Xu? The county commander was shocked: "You continue? Wei Cai said: "Liu Ji and Fan Xu are both arrogant and domineering, lawless people, they didn't take Qin Fa in their eyes before, let alone now?" Two days ago, I heard that Fan Xu had just come to the county office, and he whipped the official and the cattle privately, and even pulled the two ploughing cattle back dozens of steps, which was very powerful. This group of people is specifically against the government, once they gain power, how can you control it? Besides, the adult also tortured Lu Pheasant in the lobby, how could Liu Ji give up on this matter? Now that the adults invite Liu Ji back, it is simply to lure the wolf into the house, and your matter will definitely not succeed, but will invite the disaster of killing. I hope you will think twice? After Wei Cai said this, Zhao Xianling remembered many previous festivals, and felt creepy in his heart, so he said to Wei Cai: "What you said is so right, let me think about it again?" ”

That night, the county commander sat alone and thought about it, and his heart was depressed. His lady came out, and when she saw him like this, she asked, "What is the matter of trouble, master?" The prefectural magistrate told his wife about his concerns. Mrs. said: "Wei Cai is right! Liu Ji is a fierce man, he never takes you seriously, and the criminals in the whole county listen to him, once you call him back, it is like 'fighting backwards and being handled by others', things will definitely not work out, but you will be ruined. Especially that butcher Fan Xu, once he turns his face, he won't admit your account at all! If you want to turn your back on Qin, you can control the army yourself, so that there will be no danger! Zhao Xian ordered: "Madam is right, but this matter was planned by Lord Xiao He, how can I explain it to him?" Mrs. said, "What's wrong with Xiao He?" He and those people have been colluding for a long time, maybe this is the trap he planned in advance? Zhao Xianling suddenly realized when he heard this, and said: "Madame is reasonable, I almost fell for Xiao He!" The county magistrate immediately summoned the county lieutenant Wan Qitu to discuss. Wan Qitu wanted to do it himself, so he completely agreed with the county lady's opinion.

At this time, a sergeant came to report that Liu Ji had occupied Fengyi and was calling for soldiers and horses. There was also news from the county that the county keeper had asked the counties to be on high alert to prevent anyone from rebelling, and said...... "When the county commander Zhao saw him spitting and vomiting, he asked what was going on." The sergeant said in horror: "The county guard also said...... said that Lord Xiao He fled from the county and did not know where to go. When Zhao Feng heard this, he was furious, thinking that the county guard didn't have the idea of betraying Qin Yingchu at all, it turned out that this was Xiao He's idea. In the future, if the Qin army exterminated Chen Sheng, he would have to bear the charge of rebellion, and maybe exterminate the clan. Thinking of this, the county magistrate actually trembled his legs, urinated incontinently, and collapsed to the ground. The officials hurriedly pinched people, smoothed their breath, called, and gave first aid for a long time, and Zhao County Ling came back to life. I saw him crying with a sad face, and said weakly: "Xiao He harms me, Xiao He harms me!" Now if Lord County Shou knows that I want to betray Qin Yingchu, I will be finished! It's over! What can I do? Xiao He made this decision and hurt me! Zhao Xianling groaned for a while, and suddenly came to his senses again, so he got up and gritted his teeth and said, "If you don't kill Xiao He, how can you explain to the county guard?" Seeing that the fire had arrived, he boldly said: "Lord Zhao, Xiao He is the mastermind, you can now say that he is Liu Ji's internal response, and immediately order the sergeant to arrest Xiao He first, and then get rid of Cao Shen, and put all the blame on the two of them." If you can kill these two, immediately take their heads and report them to the county guard, and the county guard will definitely appreciate your actions! When the county magistrate heard this, he was overjoyed, so he immediately ordered the city gate to be closed, and then ordered Wei Cai and Ren Ao to lead the officials to arrest Xiao He and Cao Shen.

When Wei Cai received the order, he was so happy that he went crazy, so he walked out of the county office and immediately assembled the team. Ren Ao was taken aback when he saw that the county order had changed, pretended to be going to transfer troops, and hurriedly rushed out of the yamen to report to Cao Shen. At this time, the county commander also walked out of the mansion and said to the officials: "The county guard did not betray Qin Yingchu, but Xiao He deceived us, he fornicated with the thieves of Mangdang Mountain, and was ready to cooperate with Liu Jili Yingwai, and now Liu Ji is already coming to attack Peixian." This county orders you to immediately arrest Xiao He and Cao Shen, and then help the county guard to eliminate Liu Ji, for the sake of the country! "The sergeants acted immediately as soon as they obeyed the orders of their commanders.