Chapter 150 Xi Zhicai: The world only exists when I am hurt!

October of the fifth year of Zhongping.

The Yellow Turbans rose up again in Qingzhou and Xuzhou and attacked counties.

As the world was in chaos, Emperor Liu Hong finally withdrew from his entertainment in the West Garden.

Another historian observed the celestial phenomena at night and believed that there would be a great chaos in the capital and bloodshed in the two palaces.

So Emperor Liu Hong reviewed the troops at Pingleguan.

Afterwards, Liu Hong specially summoned Gai Xun and asked, "Why did the country rebel to such an extent?" Gai Xun replied, "This is all caused by the sons of lucky ministers."

At that time, the captain of the upper army, Jian Shuo, was also present, and his sons and nephews were even more so. Liu Hong turned around and asked Jian Shuo, but Jian Shuo was so frightened that he didn't know how to answer, and therefore resented Gai Xun.

Liu Hong asked Gai Xun again: "I have reviewed the troops at Pingle Temple and distributed a lot of the property in Xiyuan to the soldiers. What do you think?"

Gai Xun replied: "I have heard that in the past, the kings only boasted about their good governance and did not consider the number of troops. Now the rebels are far away, but Your Majesty is reviewing the troops in front of you. This does not show Your Majesty's decisiveness and fortitude, but only shows your majesty's power."

Liu Hong was not angry, but praised Gai Xun: "You are right. It is a pity that we met too late. Among so many ministers, no one can speak like you."

Gai Xun bowed and thanked him.

Liu Hong asked again: "Qingzhou and Xuzhou are in rebellion. Who do you think can go and quell the rebellion?"

Since the governor of Qingzhou was still in office, Gai Xun recommended Tao Qian as the governor of Xuzhou.

Liu Hong was very interested, but Jian Shuo suggested: "Hundreds of thousands of rebels in Yangzhou were pacified by Governor Jin Mao. Why don't you order Jin Mao to go to Xuzhou to quell the rebellion?"

"Jin Mao?" Liu Hong was very surprised. He was just a wealthy man from Yangzhou. How could he have the ability to quell a rebellion?
Liu Hong asked Gai Xun: "Do you know about this?"

Gai Xun was on good terms with Liu Yu and Yuan Shao, so he naturally knew. Since the emperor had asked him, he had no choice but to answer truthfully: "Yangzhou Governor Jin Mao was both civil and military. He led 10,000 elite soldiers to defeat 100,000 rebels, beheaded over 10,000, and captured over 70,000."

"So amazing!" Liu Hong was shocked. "I heard that Jin Mao is a descendant of the royal family?"

Gai Xun replied: "Yes, he is the descendant of Prince Wushang."

This time, Liu Hong really started to get interested: "Such an outstanding royal family, why haven't I heard of it before?"

Gai Xun glanced at Jian Shuo but didn't say anything.

Jian Shuo began to pour cold water on him: "Your Majesty, you don't know that this boy has evil intentions and is raising troops in Yangzhou. Jin Mao is originally from Yangzhou, so how can he be the governor of Yangzhou?"

"This! It goes against our ancestors' rules!"

Liu Hong didn't care about the ancestral rules, but asked, "Did Jinmao pay the money?"

Jian Shuo lowered his head and said, "I have handed it in."

"How many?"

"Forty thousand hu of oil is equivalent to 200 million coins (depreciated)."

In fact, Jinmao contributed 40,000 barrels of oil, equivalent to 80,000 hu of oil, and the remaining half did not fall into the hands of the eunuchs. This is also the reason why Jian Shuo wanted to punish Jinmao.

Liu Hong didn't care about all that. He thought that he could both fight wars and make money. If there were more members of the royal family like him, the world would be peaceful.

Liu Hong asked again: "How about Yangzhou Governor Jin Mao being transferred to Xuzhou Governor?"

"No!" Gai Xun and Jian Shuo spoke almost at the same time.

Jian Shuo just wanted to weaken Jin Mao so that he would learn his lesson and not stand on the wrong side again.

Gai Xun said: "Your Majesty's promotion of Jin Mao to become the governor of Yangzhou is already a great favor. How could he be promoted again in such a short time?"

"I'm afraid even the Champion Marquis would be no more than this if he were still alive."

"Marquis of Champion?" Liu Hong's eyes lit up. How much would this title be sold for?

"Then why not let Jin Mao recognize his ancestry and give him the surname Liu? Can't I also have a champion marquis?"

Gai Xun and Jian Shuo were both dumbfounded. This was not the way the script could be played out.

This time, not only did the two of them oppose it, but the Ten Eunuchs and all the civil and military officials also submitted a petition, asking Liu Hong not to have this idea.

Finally, Liu Hong issued an imperial edict, ordering Jin Maoping to be transferred as the governor of Xuzhou to quell the rebellion.

As for Yangzhou, Liu Hong wanted to take this fertile land into his own hands, but the aristocratic group and the eunuch group also wanted to have a piece of the pie.

As the three parties argued, Liu Hong began to feel disgusted with the eunuch group for the first time.

The post of Yangzhou governor was temporarily shelved.

...

Shouchun County.

Since the second time he parted with Guo Jia, Xi Zhicai sent his confidants to escort Guo Jia back to Yingchuan County.

Qingzhou and Xuzhou were unstable, and the Yellow Turbans in Yuzhou also showed signs of resurgence. Without an escort, Guo Jia was afraid that he would not be able to go back.

Of course, Xi Zhicai knew nothing about Guo Jia's attempt to trick him, and he was still moved by his friend's willingness to stand up for him.

this day.

Xi Zhicai finally waited for Jin Mao to come.

He went out of the city ten miles to welcome him, thinking it would be a scene of loyalty between the monarch and his subjects.

Unexpectedly, as soon as they met, Jin Mao started to scold him: "You are so good, Xi Zhicai, I trusted you so much, and this is how you repay me?"

"From today on, all your previous achievements will be reset to zero!"

"However, for the sake of your good friend Guo Jia, I decided to give you a chance to redeem yourself for your crime."

Jin Mao didn't give him a chance to respond and said, "You will temporarily take over the position of military advisor. When you have accumulated enough merits, you can resume your original position."

"in addition…"

"My Lord!" Xi Zhicai interrupted in surprise, "Who were you talking about just now?"

Jin Mao was confused, so he thought for a moment and asked, "Isn't Guo Jia Guo Fengxiao your good friend?"

Xi Zhicai affirmed: "Yes, Feng Xiao is my good friend."

Then he asked, "Where did you see Guo Fengxiao?"

"Wabu Lakeside." Jin Mao asked with concern: "Zhicai, are you okay? If you think this punishment is too much, we can discuss it."

Xi Zhicai took a deep breath. He needed to sort out his thoughts on such a strange thing. Even though Guo Jia's appearance had changed, Xi Zhicai could still tell from his speaking style that he had indeed sent him away.

So who is this new Guo Jia?

You can't listen to ghost stories in broad daylight, right?

Xi Zhicai concluded that this person must have impersonated Guo Jia, but who would be so bored as to impersonate Guo Jia?

That bad temper...

wrong!

Xi Zhicai suddenly realized the key point: "My lord doesn't know Guo Jia!"

As for Xun You impersonating Guo Jia, Xi Zhicai would never believe it. With Xun You's honest character, how could he do such an outrageous thing?
"My Lord, I accept the punishment you proposed!"

Xi Zhicai said seriously: "Please believe me, this is my last time, there will never be a next time!"

Xi Zhicai took a deep breath and said, "There is one more thing I must tell you."

"I have sent the real Guo Jia back to Yingchuan County. The Guo Jia you saw is a fake!"

"What?!" Jin Mao was doubly shocked: "You actually let Guo Jia escape again?"

Suddenly, Jin Mao felt that the punishment was too light.

Twice!
Xi Zhicai actually betrayed twice!

Damn it!

"It has already happened, and I don't want to make excuses for myself."

Xi Zhicai was afraid that Jin Mao had been deceived, so he said anxiously, "My lord, please let me confront the fake Guo Jia, and I will know the answer after asking him."

Jin Mao forced himself to suppress his anger and really wanted to know who was impersonating Guo Jia.

It doesn't make sense. He doesn't even know Guo Jia, so why would someone impersonate Guo Jia?
"Someone, please ask Mr. Guo to come to the front."

Soon Xun You came to the front of the battle and saluted Jin Mao: "Guo Jia Guo Fengxiao greets you, sir."

This time it was Xi Zhicai's turn to be doubly shocked: "How could it be you! Are you pretending to be Guo Fengxiao?"

Xun You pretended to be stupid and asked, "Zhicai, what nonsense are you talking about?"

Jin Mao looked left and right, and finally couldn't help asking: "Who is he?"

Xi Zhicai said with a bitter face: "He is Xun You, Xun Gongda."

“Xun You!!”

Jin Mao screamed.

In an instant, all the unhappiness was thrown out of the window. What kind of person is Guo Jia? He is not as good as Xun You.

Guo Jia represents an individual at most, but Xun You represents the entire Xun family!

That’s a treasure trove of talent!

suddenly!

Jin Mao realized a problem: "If you were Xun You, the person who gave me the three strategies was Guo Jia and Guo Fengxiao?!"

Xun You nodded and said, "Please forgive me, my lord. Fengxiao is naughty and naughty. Please don't blame Zhicai."

"Everything started from filial piety."

What a great cosplay scene! Jin Mao never thought that he would one day become a supporting actor.

"Why?" Jin Mao couldn't help but ask, "Why do you do this?"

Xun You didn't want to expose Guo Jia's shortcomings.

Xi Zhicai, who understood that Guo Jia had tricked him, did not have so many concerns. He gritted his teeth and said, "My lord, I don't know."

"Guo Fengxiao loves to dance on the edge of a knife. He is a freak between a genius and a madman."

"He has a great talent for military tactics, superior to mine, but he is also arrogant and cannot endure hardship."

Xi Zhicai's mind raced, trying to recover some of his losses, and he said, "This is also why I want to let him go."

"I don't think he's right for you. If you force Fengxiao to stay, it will backfire!"

"Imagine if there is a very smart strategist working under you, but he is always thinking about how to kill you. Can you still sleep peacefully?"

Jin Mao thought about it for a moment and felt a chill. He immediately helped Xi Zhicai up with a smile and said, "Oh, I wronged you."

"Don't worry about it, Zhicai."

Xi Zhicai bowed again and said, "My lord's punishment is reasonable. I don't want to escape. I only ask that you, lord, spare me this time because of my diligence."

Jin Mao laughed and said, "It's okay. I don't want to change it. I just have good news to tell you."

"You are almost thirty years old, it's time to get married. My uncle has agreed to marry his daughter to you. You can choose a good day and get married."

Xi Zhicai breathed a sigh of relief. He was not afraid of being demoted, but he was afraid of losing Jin Mao's trust.

What he just said was like a double-edged sword. Xi Zhicai was betting that Jinmao still trusted him, and now he finally made the right bet.

"Thank you, my lord, for granting me the marriage!" Xi Zhicai said simply, "It is better to do it today than to wait for a better day. The marriage will be arranged today. Please help me arrange the wedding date."

"Okay!" Jin Mao agreed readily.

In fact, the incident has already happened, and excessive pursuit will only discourage the people under your command. Jinmao said such harsh words out of anger.

Since Xi Zhicai accepted it, everyone was happy.

Xi Zhicai finally got a chance to be alone with Xun You.

Afterwards, Xi Zhicai learned what had happened from Xun You and was speechless.

It can be said that I stabbed my friends in the back, but my friends stabbed me in the back!

Xi Zhicai swore silently: "My lord is still too merciful, these bastards should be imprisoned and killed!"

(End of this chapter)