120. Civil uprising
In the brightly lit Yingxian Tower, Chen Ji looked at Zhang Zhuo with some surprise.
The Imperial Household Department and the civil officials have been in conflict for a long time and are incompatible.
He originally thought that without the royal flag in hand, it would be difficult to get Zhang Zhuo to leave. However, as soon as Zhang Zhuo heard that the refugees were in danger, he immediately stood up and was willing to go with him.
Why?
Zhang Zhuo looked at Chen Ji with amusement: "Why, I dare to go with you, but you don't dare to take me with you?"
The banquet gradually became noisy. A newly-minted scholar stood up and said in a drunken voice, "Sir, you must not leave with the eunuchs. What if they want to take you away and throw you into the inner prison?"
"Sir, you can't be fooled by the eunuchs!"
However, Zhang Zhuo suddenly raised his hand, and the noise at the table stopped.
He smiled and said to Chen Ji: "Please go in, business is more important."
After saying this, the prefect actually walked out of Yingxian Tower first.
After leaving Yingxian Tower, Zhang Zhuo stood on the stone pavement of Baiyi Lane. He turned his head to look at the traces behind him and said casually, "Tell me, what do you need me to do?"
Chen Ji quickly explained, "Sir Zhang, please open the granary immediately and transfer a batch of grain to the west gate."
Zhang Zhuo stroked his beard. "Open the granary? Young man, the Luocheng granary is where the military secrets are. It's a matter of great importance. Why didn't you go to Lord Chen, but came to me?"
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Chen Ji said calmly, "Master Chen is rigid and pedantic. Right now in Luo City, only Master Zhang has the ability and the courage to do this."
Zhang Zhuo laughed and scolded, "Don't flatter me. If you said this to Mr. Chen's face, I might be more relieved."
As he spoke, he restrained his smile and said, "I need to confirm again, do you know what you are doing at this moment, and can you bear the consequences?"
Chen Ji, a man in gray and wearing a conical hat, and Zhang Zhuo, dressed in a bright red official robe, stood facing each other.
After a long time.
Zhang Zhuo said confidently, "Master Zhang, I know what I am doing."
Zhang Zhuo didn't ask any more questions: "It's good that you know."
Chen Ji turned around and shouted to the alley next to Yingxian Tower, "Xifeng, prepare the carts. You escort Master Zhang to requisition the grain. The faster the better."
Xifeng pulled a carriage out of the alley, and several spies on war horses were guarding the carriage.
Chen Ji said, "Master Zhang, please get in the car."
But Zhang Zhuo did not get on the carriage. Instead, he quickly untied the lasso on the horse and jumped on it.
He laughed heartily and said, "The carriage is too slow. See you later in the west of the city. If I find out you're being mysterious, even Xu Wenhe can't protect you."
After saying this, Zhang Zhuo squeezed his legs against the horse's belly, raised his hooves, and galloped away.
Chen Ji watched the man in red robe turn out of Baiyi Lane and disappear. He actually felt that if a sword was hung on the official robe and leather belt, it might look more suitable.
While he was thinking, the Golden Pig ran out from Yingxian Tower, muttering, "Crazy, crazy."
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Chen Ji asked in confusion, "Sir, what happened?"
Golden Pig complained, "Although our Secret Service is overbearing and has arrested many civil servants, we have never taken away a fifth-rank imperial official at the Luming Banquet. It's a taboo."
Chen Ji explained: "But we are not trying to capture Mr. Zhang, we are trying to save him."
Jin Zhu said helplessly: "Those civil servants don't think so. Before you do this, at least discuss it with me."
Chen Ji asked, "If I ask, will the Lord still let me do this?"
Jin Zhu said unhappily, "Of course I disagree."
"Forget it. Do whatever you want. Where are you going now?"
"West of the city!"
…
"Chen Ji!"
"Um?"
Golden Pig, riding on his horse, looked at the calm-looking apprentice beside him and suddenly sighed, "You were born to do this job. You said before that you wanted to quit your job as a secret agent, but the Secret Service is the place that suits you best."
"Why do you say that, sir?"
The Golden Pig looked at the end of the long street and said, "You like to take unconventional approaches too much. Sooner or later, you will fall."
Chen Ji changed the subject: "Sir, Lord Zhang just said, 'Even Xu Wenhe can't protect you.' Who is Xu Wenhe?"
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Jin Zhu was amused. "That's the name of the Minister of Internal Affairs. But nowadays, everyone either calls him the Minister of Poison or the Minister of Internal Affairs. They've almost forgotten that name. Zhang Zhuo is really bold. A fifth-rank official dares to call the Minister of Internal Affairs by his name."
Chen Ji asked curiously, "I always feel that Lord Zhang doesn't look like a civil official. He looks more like a knight-errant."
Golden Pig smiled and said, "You're right. After Zhang Zhuo's first wife passed away, he actually became a knight-errant for a year, hanging out with the gangsters every day, not doing his job properly."
"Then why did he come back and marry Lord Xu's niece?"
The Golden Pig sneered, "Learn the civil and martial arts, and sell them to the emperor. Isn't that what all civil officials think? Why is there any reason? By the way, what's the matter with him betrothing his daughter to you? If it really works out, it would save you thirty years of trouble. The Minister of Internal Affairs once said that Lord Zhang is a prime minister."
Chen Ji did not answer, and he could not answer.
At this moment, a spy exclaimed: "Sir, there is a fire."
Baiyi Lane is in the east of the city. By the time Chen Ji and others rode their horses to the west of the city, it was already midnight.
Before leaving the city, Jin Zhu and others saw from afar a huge fire burning outside the city, with sparks flying in the night sky.
Jin Zhu looked at Chen Ji in shock: "You really predicted this? How could you have known that something big would happen in the west of the city?"
Chen Ji's face was as solemn as water.
Golden Pig Urgent Sound
He asked, "What could have caused such a huge fire outside the city?"
Chen Ji replied, "I'm afraid it's the granary used by the Luocheng government to provide relief to the victims."
Jin Zhu's face darkened. He was no fool, and he immediately understood the key point: "There are over 10,000 disaster victims from western Henan gathered outside the city, starving and ill-fated. If the granary is burned, and someone infiltrates the victims and incites them, they will likely turn into bandits and storm Luocheng, looting and burning. If a civil uprising breaks out, the futures of both Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin will be shattered."
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A secret agent asked doubtfully, "Sir, the Luocheng Military Commission is not just for show. If there is a civil uprising, they will immediately close the city gates and wait for the government troops to suppress it. Failure to close the city gates in time is a capital offense. No matter how much money the Liu family gives them, it won't do anything."
Jin Zhu said coldly, "I guess the West City Gate should have been opened by the Liu family by now."
Just as he finished speaking, several people rode their horses around a corner and saw the west city gate suddenly opened.
The soldiers in front of the city gate were all killed and their bodies fell to the ground.
From afar, Chen Ji could see through the open city gate that dense groups of disaster victims were holding torches, rakes and sticks in their hands, and rushing towards Luocheng with great momentum.
A spy asked urgently, "Sir, what should we do now?"
Jin Zhu was thinking of retiring. What did it have to do with him whether Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin lost their official positions?
What does this group of disaster victims who rushed into Los Angeles and burned, killed and looted have to do with him?
He is not the local official.
Jin Zhu looked at Chen Ji and said, "You and I have done our best today. It was the civil servants fighting among themselves that caused the big mistake. It has nothing to do with us. Anyway, your father doesn't like you, and he lost his job, so this is just a relief for you."
Chen Ji stopped his horse and looked silently at the fire outside the city gate from under his bamboo hat.
Outside the city gate, there seemed to be an atmosphere of restlessness.
As the flames of the torches dance.
Chen Ji asked, "If the victims rush into the city, how many people will die?"
Jin Zhu looked at the flickering fire in Chen Ji's eyes and exclaimed in shock, "Why do you care how many people die? These disaster victims can't kill anyone from Anxi Street. Chen Ji, can we just pretend we weren't here tonight? As long as we don't interfere, this matter will have nothing to do with us. If we do, even if it's not our fault, those civil servants will blame us."
However, just as he finished speaking, Chen Ji crouched down and rode his horse straight to the city gate: "Close the city gate and don't let the victims rush in."
The spies were startled and turned to look at the golden pig.
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Jin Zhu looked at Chen Ji's back and gritted his teeth, "Don't worry about him, let him die on his own."
But after hesitating for a few breaths, he whipped the horse's butt hard and said in a fierce voice, "Damn it, follow me to close the city gate. I am so unlucky that I have to deal with such a thing."
Everyone rode their horses to the city gate. Seeing that the victims were only a hundred steps away, the spies worked together to push the two huge red-painted city gates and slowly closed them.
Only when the wooden stakes were put on top of the door did I feel a little relieved.
Chen Ji and Jin Zhu walked up to the city wall and looked at the victims below from a distance.
Chen Ji held up a torch and shouted loudly, "Who is trespassing into the city?"
Amidst the dense swirl of torches below the city, someone roared angrily, "The imperial court has burned the granary where we distribute porridge. They're killing us! Open the gates! We want to enter the city to beg for food."
Jin Zhu frowned. "How could anyone believe such an outrageous rumor? Why would the imperial court burn your granaries?"
Chen Ji shouted, "This must have been instigated by treacherous people. Everyone, please don't believe the rumors."
As soon as he finished speaking, someone among the victims shouted, "Don't worry about what these corrupt officials say. They're well fed and well-drinking in the city, so they can talk without any worries. Break down the door."
The next moment, Chen Ji narrowed his eyes and discovered that there were more than 30 disaster victims in the dark, carrying hemp ropes and a heavy log on their shoulders and rushing towards the city gate.
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Come prepared.
With a loud bang.
Chen Ji and Jin Zhu stood on the city wall and felt the earth shaking and the whole city was filled with rubble and dust.
Chen Ji asked, "How long can the city gate hold up?"
The Golden Pig's scalp tingled: "I don't know. I've never been to a border town, and I've never seen a siege."
Chen Ji observed for a moment and said, "It's broken. The city gate has been in disrepair for a long time. I'm afraid it will be broken open soon."
Golden Pig glanced back at the dark mass of Luocheng behind him and said, "This time, the people will probably suffer."
After saying this, he hesitated for a moment, then pulled out a golden command arrow from his bosom and held it high above his head. "Here is the royal banner. If Your Majesty comes in person, I, Song Gan, am the governor appointed by Your Majesty to travel the country, comforting the troops and the people. I have been informed of the disaster in western Henan and have dispatched Lord Zhang, the prefect of Luocheng, to open the granaries and release grain. The relief food will arrive soon."
The victims gradually stopped shouting, looked up at the golden flag of the king, and hesitated for a moment.
Chen Ji looked at the Golden Pig with a complicated expression. There was really not a single word of truth coming out of the mouth of this Chinese Zodiac Animal.
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At this time, someone in the crowd shouted, "It must be fake. I've seen the real King's Flag, and it doesn't look like this at all."
The Golden Pig was so angry that he jumped up and down, cursing, "Bullshit! This was handed to me by His Majesty himself. How dare you say it's fake? Who is inciting rebellion among the people? The food will be here soon. If it doesn't arrive before daybreak, I will open the gates and let you into the city to cause trouble."
Someone else provoked, "Don't believe him! He's definitely sending troops to suppress us. I don't believe the imperial court will actually open the granaries and release grain."
The victims were wavering between the instigation and the king's order. Jin Zhu was sweating profusely with anxiety: "I've never dealt with this kind of thing before. What should I do now?"
On the city wall
The spies looked at each other nervously, their fingers tightly gripping the knife handles, but they didn't know what to do.
Just as the victims were about to pound on the gate again, Chen Ji suddenly shouted to the people below the city walls, "I'm going down to wait with you for Master Zhang to open the granaries and release the grain. If you don't see the grain before the hour of Mao, you can kill me with your swords."
After saying that, he actually found a hemp rope from the city wall and handed it to the golden pig.
"Sir, pull this end of the rope and let me out of the city."
Jin Zhu was horrified: "Are you fucking crazy? Is it really necessary to risk your life like this? There must be someone from the Liu family inciting a civil uprising. What if they incite the victims to kill you?"
Chen Ji thought for a moment: "The people I know are not that bold. They won't rebel unless they are starving to death. Besides, Lord Tianma is here."
The golden pig suddenly turned around and saw a Pegasus in white standing on the eaves of the city wall.
He suddenly felt much more at peace.
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Chen Ji solemnly instructed, "If anyone wants to kill me, they must be spies from the Liu family. Please, Master Tianma, shoot them."
"Wait, what if the food doesn't arrive? Tianma can't stop so many disaster victims."
Chen Ji said calmly, "I bet Lord Zhang can transfer the food in time."
Golden Pig leaned on the battlement and looked down, but saw that the victims did not surround and kill Chen Ji, but slowly retreated a few steps.
The shouting and screaming stopped abruptly.
…………
………………
Three quarters past midnight.
On Guangji Street.
More than ten riders were galloping on horseback, making the bluestone road clatter with their feet, a crisp and clear sound.
On horseback, the wind blew Zhang Zhu's hair into disarray. He crouched down, holding the reins in his right hand, and turned to look at Xifeng beside him: "Hey, who was that young man just now?"
Xifeng asked cautiously, "Master Zhang, why are you asking this?"
Zhang Zhuo casually said, "None of you have your faces covered, only he has his face covered. I'm curious and want to ask."
Xifeng explained, "His identity is special, and he has never revealed his true identity to anyone, fearing retaliation from the thieves of Jing Dynasty. My Lord, please do not ask. This is our confidential information."
Zhang Zhuo's eyes flickered, and he changed the subject and asked, "Did that young man offend Jing Chao?"
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Xifeng chuckled: "It's a terrible offense. Because of him, Jing Dynasty has suffered many casualties."
Zhang Zhuo seemed to be thinking about something, and after a moment he asked, "Is he your boss?"
Xifeng muttered, "Not yet, but soon. My Lord, why are you so curious about him?"
Zhang Zhuo chuckled but didn't answer.
After an incense stick of time, everyone arrived at the gate of the granary camp and stopped.
A soldier from the camp came out, holding a long iron spear and asking, "Who comes here in the middle of the night?"
Zhang Zhuo jumped off his horse and said, "I am Zhang Zhuo, the prefect of Luocheng. I need to use 300 dan of grain from the granary for emergency relief. Please get out of the way immediately."
However, the soldiers in front of the camp did not retreat. They turned around and looked at the captain behind them, but the captain had no expression on his face, did not nod, did not surrender, and did not say a word.
The soldier stood with his halberd in hand and turned to Zhang Zhuo, saying, "Just because someone is wearing a red official robe doesn't mean he's Sir Zhang. He could be a thief from the Jing Dynasty in disguise. Do you have the official seal with you?"
Zhang Zhuo frowned. He was going to attend the Luming Banquet tonight. How could he possibly bring the government seal with him?
He looked past the soldiers and at the captain behind him, and said calmly, "I've seen you before, and you must have seen me before. Come forward and talk."
The captain held his sword at his waist and said indifferently, "We are under the jurisdiction of the Guiluo City Military Commission. The granary is a key military location. If you want to transfer us, you need not only the prefect's official seal, but also the amulet on General Liu's body."
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Zhang Zhuo narrowed his eyes: "What if I don't have it?"
The captain said calmly, "It hasn't changed back."
Zhang Zhuo remained silent. What the other party said was all standard procedure. In the past, he could just wait patiently, but not now.
He tilted his head and whispered to Xifeng, "Is this food absolutely necessary? Chen...does that young man have any other options?"
Xifeng: “No.”
Zhang Zhuo asked again, "Did he tell us what the consequences would be if we didn't get the food?"
Xifeng thought for a moment and replied, "He said that the Liu family wants to expel you and Master Chen from Luocheng. If you can't get enough food, I'm afraid your official position will be in jeopardy."
"Damn it! I worked so hard to get to this position. The Liu family wants to take my position away from me?"
Zhang Zhuo murmured in a low voice.
"It seems the Liu family knew someone would come to requisition grain tonight. Even a small lieutenant dared to disobey the prefect. But the more this happens, the more it proves that the boy's judgment was correct."
The next moment, Zhang Zhuo walked straight towards the captain, saying in a dignified manner, "Get out of the way."
The captain raised his eyebrows, but did not take him seriously, standing firm like an iron tower, not retreating or giving in.
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Zhang Zhuo did not stop. When he came in front of Xiaowei, he suddenly pulled out the knife from the other party's waist and slashed the captain's neck with his backhand.
In an instant, blood from the captain's neck splattered onto Zhang Zhuo's red official robe, leaving purple spots.
Zhang Zhuo leaned on his sword and said fiercely, "I am Zhang Zhuo, the prefect of Luocheng. Today, I have come here on urgent orders to transfer grain. Anyone who disobeys will be charged with treason."
Xifeng's eyes widened. It was the first time he saw a civil servant kill someone with a knife.
When he reacted, he immediately shouted, "Protect Master Zhang."
End of this chapter.
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