Wang Jing and Guo Jia looked at each other, and they immediately understood what was going on. So it was not surprising.

Wang Jing sneered, "Qingzhou Jinan County is a famous smelting city, and it has always been rich in weapons. Since the rebels attacking Jibei Kingdom are from Qingzhou, why would they go far away and equip themselves with a large number of weapons produced by our Yanzhou official factory? There is no doubt that this is an insider collusion, stealing military supplies and selling them to the rebels."

Before Wang Jing took control of Yanzhou, the local officials and workers had basically been divided up by the major families, and most of the military equipment produced was intercepted in the local area and concealed and embezzled by those who handled it.

Therefore, it is self-evident how these weapons, which should have been handed over to the central government and used to arm the imperial army, ended up in the hands of He Bing and others.

Guo Jia restrained his smile, his eyes became gloomy: "Selling military supplies is as bad as treason. It seems that some people are really bold."

The noble families and wealthy families in Yanzhou secretly colluded with the Yellow Turban bandits to create unrest. They had no bottom line at all. These people claimed to be famous Confucian scholars, but their actions were completely contrary to the teachings of saints and they had no benevolence or righteousness at all.

Especially Xu Si, in order to overthrow Wang Jing and overthrow the new policy, he has begun to use all means.

Wang Jing said to Guo Jia with a cold face, "Feng Xiao, send a pigeon to Gong Da and ask him to dispatch secret guards to investigate this matter. Anyone involved in the case, regardless of their status or position, will be beheaded, their assets will be confiscated, and their family members will be exiled to Bingzhou. Their crimes will not be pardoned even if they are pardoned!"

"My subordinate understands."

Guo Jia also knew that if he didn't take ruthless measures, some people in Yanzhou would become lawless.

In a secret courtyard in Changyi City, many generals gathered today.

Xu Si sat in the first seat, his eyes slightly closed, sitting still.

Sitting next to him was Wang Yu, the deputy governor of Yanzhou. He was looking worried and sighing, "According to the news from the front, the rebellion in Lu County has been quelled by Wang Jing's army."

Xu Xi couldn't help but cursed in a veiled tone, "Who hired these idiots? They have tens of thousands of soldiers and horses, and we secretly funded them. But in the end, they are useless and were wiped out by Wang Jing with just over a thousand cavalry! They were in a great situation, but ended up in a huge defeat. It's really despicable!"

The plan took a long time, and in order to secretly transport money, food, and weapons, it was unknown how much energy and financial resources were spent. He risked his life to plan this matter.

But once the capital was invested, the investor immediately suffered losses and went bankrupt.

Who can withstand such a blow?

Landlords don’t have much surplus food these days. Although the wealthy families are rich, their money doesn’t come from the wind. Any expenditure must be rewarded.

If you lose all your money every time, no matter how big your family business is, it will not be able to withstand it.

Therefore, not only Xu Xi, but many people who participated in this matter had complaints, and their eyes were all focused on Xu Si.

Xu Si sighed and finally opened his eyes: "This defeat is my fault. Jiangling Xu Clan will pay for your losses."

Although he was from Xiangyang, Jingzhou, Xu Si had been in Yanzhou for quite some time. The Xu family had also acquired many industries in Changyi City, including shops along the street, farms and fertile fields outside the city. These were all high-quality assets and could be worth a lot of money, so Xu Si had the confidence to say such things.

When the people around heard that Xu Si wanted to pay the full compensation, they were overjoyed. Xu Xi was afraid that Xu Si would go back on his word, so he jumped out impatiently and said, "You all heard it. This was his own request. I didn't force him."

Wang Yu couldn't stand it and wanted to dissuade him.

Xu Si stopped him, looking calm: "It was indeed Si's fault for planning this matter, which led to the defeat of this battle. It is only natural that I admit defeat."

Afterwards, Xu Si was very straightforward. He really meant to compensate and asked his servants to go back and get the land deeds and field deeds, and gave them to Xu Xi and others as compensation. Even Wang Yu got a copy, but Wang Yu refused to take it.

Not only did Xu Si compensate everyone for their losses, he also expressed his willingness to give up his position as the leader.

Wang Yu was horrified: "Why is it so?"

Xu Si sighed: "I am not talented enough to defeat Marquis Qi. It is useless for me to stay in Yanzhou. Moreover, I have been away from my hometown for many years and I miss my hometown very much. It is time for me to go back and have a look."

This frustrated expression was written all over Xu Si's face. This time, his plan was to use He Bing and others to distract Wang Jing's attention, and then secretly unite with Yuan Shao to seize Yanzhou and cut off Wang Jing's retreat.

Unexpectedly, the game failed right at the beginning.

The Qingzhou bandits including Ghost Hand He Bing were defeated so quickly that Xu Si didn't even have time to turn the tables, and there was no way to come up with any follow-up strategies. It could be said that Wang Jing's move killed them all with one sword, which caught him off guard.

Therefore, Xu Si was really tired and began to think about retiring. He did not want to stay in Yanzhou and continue fighting with Wang Jing.

I keep losing like this, I'm almost numb from losing.

When Wang Yu heard that Xu Si was leaving, he was very frightened, but Xu Xi was secretly happy.

As long as Xu Si was in Yanzhou, he had no way to get ahead.

But if Xu Si left, then Xu Xi might be able to take advantage of the situation and become the leader among the celebrities in Yanzhou. At that time, his fame, status, power and influence would be greatly increased.

Therefore, if Xu Si really decided to leave, others might try to persuade him to stay, but Xu Xi would never say that. He wished Xu Si would leave as soon as possible.

Wang Yu's persuasion was futile; Xu Si insisted on returning to his hometown in Xiangyang, and he left without delay. That night, he took a few servants with him, traveled light, and left Changyi City.

After leaving the city, walk south along the official road.

Xu Si looked back at Changyi, feeling depressed: "No one came to see me off today. I guess my former colleagues are now busy taking over the Xu family's business."

Soon, in the darkness, the crisp sound of horse hooves came from behind.

The man who came was Wang Yu. He rode a horse and chased out of the city alone: ​​"Finally caught up with him."

Wang Yu dismounted his horse, panting, and walked up to Xu Si, looking reluctant: "Do we have to go?"

Among so many people, only Wang Yu came out to see them off. Xu Si was moved, and then hesitated for a while, lowered his voice and said to him: "I advise you to leave Changyi as soon as possible. As the saying goes, it is okay to do it once or twice, but not three times. If we make trouble for Marquis Qi again and again, I am afraid it will be difficult to end it peacefully. Wang Yuanxu is a vindictive person. Once he gets evidence, the consequences will be disastrous."

"You mean Wang Yuanxu wants to massacre Yanzhou!"

Wang Yu was shocked when he heard this, and then he was at a loss, his heart was in turmoil, but he still didn't want to believe that Wang Jing dared to kill him, and looked at Xu Si for help: "Not really, right?"

Xu Si shook his head: "I never rely on luck. Take my advice. If you want to live, run away."

After bidding farewell to Wang Yu, Xu Si and his men continued on their journey.

However, when the convoy reached the outskirts of the city, it suddenly stopped.

Xu Si was slightly displeased and lifted the curtain of the carriage: "Why did you stop?"

The butler turned around tremblingly and said, "Master, there are strong men blocking our way ahead."

Under the faint moonlight, seven tall figures were seen standing with their backs to the wind.

The visitor was wearing black leather armor, which was as dark and deep as the night sky, and there was a silver-white mask on his face. In the silent atmosphere, a faint murderous intent silently permeated the air.

When Xu Si saw this, his pupils shrank, and he instantly realized who the person was. He said with a disappointed tone, "I never thought that even though I left the city overnight, I still couldn't escape the cage of fame and fortune."

At this point, Xu Si understood that his every move had long been under Wang Jing's control.

The reason why the other party let him leave Changyi and did not take action until the outskirts of the city was to try not to attract attention and alert the enemy, so as to capture him alive.

"My name is Ding San, nice to meet you, Mr. Xu."

Xu Si smiled bitterly: "Did Marquis Qi send you to kill me?"

Ding San shook his head: "The Lord sent me to ask you to go back."

Although the tone was indifferent, there was a kind of domineering power that could not be disobeyed.

"The only difficulty in the world is death. I never thought that I am so passionate and enthusiastic, but I am still afraid of death."

Xu Si let out a long sigh and did not choose to fight to the end. Instead, he obediently returned to Changyi City with Ding San.

Family members and servants were taken away and placed in secret, while Xu Si himself went to the governor's mansion and met Wang Jing.

"Meet General Wei."

"Please stand up, Zhonglang."

Looking at Xu Si standing tall in front of him, Wang Jing's eyes were like swords: "Sir, you left your official seal and left without saying goodbye. Did Jing neglect you?"

Seeing that Wang Jing had given him enough face, Xu Si, who felt insecure, could only sigh and respond: "Things have come to this point, it's just a matter of who wins and who loses. Since I've already failed and am now a prisoner, I really have nothing to say. I can only let the general deal with me." "I do want to deal with you. You have conspired to set up a trap, colluded with both insiders and outsiders, and disturbed Yanzhou. Any one of these crimes is enough to confiscate your property and exterminate your clan, and make the century-old family business of the Jiangling Xu family a thing of the past."

Every word of Wang Jing weighed heavily on Xu Si's heart, like a mountain pressing down on his head, making it hard for him to breathe.

Then Wang Jing changed the subject: "But I can give you a chance to survive. Tell me, I want to hear your plan. I want to know all the details."

Between betraying his teammates and letting his entire family die, Xu Si made a decisive choice and immediately told Wang Jing the whole plan.

"Your Majesty Qi, I have told you everything Si knows. Please keep your promise and let me and my family live."

Xu Si lowered his head, no longer as calm and arrogant as before.

The so-called literati and celebrities, when they are not in danger, can naturally be free and easy, calm and wise.

But when death really comes, how much pride can a mere scholar have?
The so-called prominent families like Xu Si claimed to be moral role models, as if they were the backbone of the Han people, but Wang Jing was disdainful of this.

When the time comes to sacrifice one's life for the country and for justice, how many of these pedantic literati who talk about benevolence, righteousness and morality can truly shoulder the heavy responsibility of the nation's rise and fall?
Wang Jing looked at Xu Si and said, "For fame and fortune, you betrayed Liu Dai. For power, you betrayed the people of Yanzhou and even betrayed me. And now, for the sake of your life, you betrayed your accomplices. In this vast world, do you still have a place to stand?"

This sentence is simply murderous.

Xu Si suddenly realized that although the world was big, there was no place for him to stay.

"So, how about serving me?"

Wang Jing looked down at Xu Si with a smile on his face, obviously confident that Xu Si could not refuse.

Xu Si really couldn't refuse this proposal, but he couldn't understand it in his heart: "Marquis Qi has so many counselors and famous generals under his command, why does he need a mediocre person like Si to serve him?"

In the Eastern Dynasty, where "loyalty and filial piety" were the foundation of society, a traitor like Xu Si carried the stigma of shame, and logically no one would dare to employ him.

What's more, in Xu Si's opinion, he had caused trouble for Wang Jing several times before.

Wang Jing did not kill his entire family as agreed, which could be considered as showing leniency. But what was the purpose of this surrender?
Xu Si couldn't understand, so he was very hesitant.

Wang Jing knew what he was worried about and smiled calmly: "You have betrayed everyone. Now I am the only one in the world who can use you. If you betray again, you will only end up dead. So why don't I dare to use you?"

Those who achieve great things do not care about trivial matters. As long as Xu Si can demonstrate enough value, Wang Jing will naturally be able to let bygones be bygones.

With such a broad mind and such a generous spirit, Xu Si finally convinced and knelt down in front of Wang Jing: "I am here to greet the lord."

As soon as these words were spoken, the status between the monarch and his subjects was established.

If he betrayed again, Xu Si would really be dead without a burial place.

Therefore, this time, Wang Jing can be said to have recruited a loyal dog. As long as he gave the order, no matter who the target was, Xu Si would definitely pounce on him and bite him desperately to show his loyalty.

Because he had no choice.

"Are you willing to serve as the Prime Minister of Jibei?"

Wang Jing's words made Xu Si look surprised.

His previous official position was Secretary of the Central Secretariat, which sounded nice, but in reality he was just an attendant who offered advice to others. To put it bluntly, he was just an advisor, with neither military power nor administrative power.

But the Jibei Xiang is different. After all, he is a local official who holds real power. The difference between the two is incomparable.

Such outward transfer is equivalent to promotion.

Xu Si was deeply moved and said: "I will go through fire and water for you, even if I die."

Wang Jing was quite satisfied with Xu Si's attitude: "Do your best and don't let me down."

"My subordinate understands."

At noon the next day, Wang Yu was reading at home when suddenly a servant rushed in to report the news to him.

After hearing the news, Wang Yu was stunned: "How is this possible? Didn't he leave? How come he is back? And..."

"not good!"

Wang Yu stood up suddenly. The news that Xu Si was appointed as the Prime Minister of Jibei and Deng Yuan, the former Prime Minister of Jibei, was transferred to Shanyang County as the prefect, made him sweat coldly after just a little interpretation: "The truth has been revealed!"

"No, I can't just sit there and wait for death. I have to contact everyone and find a solution together."

Wang Yu had rich experience in political struggles and quickly thought of many things. However, before he could move, he found that his mansion was surrounded by a group of soldiers.

There were hundreds of soldiers standing outside the Beijia Mansion.

They held shields and halberds in their hands, had steel swords on their waists, carried longbows and arrows on their backs, and had cold eyes. Just one glance at them and the whole body seemed to be wrapped in the cold wind of the winter. The servants and guards in the Beijia's mansion did not dare to resist at all.

After all, standing before them were the world-famous Shenwu Army!

Wang Yu walked out of the door with a bitter smile on his face: "Haha, sending out hundreds of soldiers, Marquis Qi really thinks highly of me."

"My dear Wang Yu, my general invites you!"

The young general who led the team had sharp eyes and his hand on the hilt of his sword. If Wang Yu dared to say no, the Beijia Mansion in front of them would probably be razed to the ground by these one hundred Shenwu soldiers.

"Alas, it seems that the matter has been exposed. In this case, please lead the way."

Wang Yu gave up resistance. He knew that Wang Jing must have set up this trap for a long time, and he and others were completely unaware of it. It was really unfair that they were defeated.

Shaking his head and laughing a few times, Wang Yu obediently followed on the journey to the governor's mansion.

As he walked, Wang Yu met several colleagues, such as Wang Kai, who was also a Zhonglang official. They were all Yanzhou scholars who had secretly plotted against Wang Jing before.

Everyone was taken to the governor's mansion.

At this time, a banquet had been set up in the hall of the mansion, with all the fine wine and delicious food available.

However, no one had the mood to eat, drink and have fun, because today's banquet was destined to be a Hongmen Banquet.

"There is no good banquet."

Wang Yu sighed in his heart, looked around, frowned again, and was confused: "Why can't I see Mao Hui and Xu Xi? Could it be that Marquis Qi didn't know that these two people were also involved in the rebellion? But that's impossible!"

Mao Hui is fine, but Xu Xi has always been at odds with Xu Si. If Xu Si really chose to betray, how could he not sell out Xu Xi?
Wang Yu sat there silently waiting. He didn't wait long before two teams of armored soldiers came outside, corresponding to the two seats in the hall.

Obviously, the two empty seats belonged to Xu Xi and Mao Hui.

But the two of them did not come. Instead, two young generals in heavy armor came in carrying two wooden boxes and placed them on the seats of Mao Hui and Xu Xi respectively.

Wang Yu had a bad association in his mind. Fear occupied his heart and made him tremble all over.

"Marquis Qi has arrived!"

The sound of name-calling outside the door interrupted Wang Yu's wandering thoughts, and also made the hall, which was originally full of discussions, become silent, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

Wang Jing, dressed in red and black brocade clothes, walked into the hall with the gait of a dragon and a tiger.

The moment he walked in, everyone's eyes subconsciously focused on him, as if he was born to be the focus of everyone's attention.

Wang Jing looked calmly, and glanced around. He glanced at the wooden boxes on Xu Xi and Mao Hui's seats, and smiled as he said, "It seems that everyone is here. Let's get started."

Wang Jing walked to the main seat as a matter of course and sat down.

Among those present, he had the highest official rank and title, so naturally only he could sit in this position.

Seeing everyone's eyes curiously looking at the wooden box on Xu Xi and Mao Hui's seats from time to time, Wang Jing smiled and said, "It seems that everyone wants to know what is in the wooden box. Someone, come and open the wooden box." (End of this chapter)