Chapter 2: Six Purple Horses After all, he was the head of the county guard, with a high position and power, and Wei Zheng's orders were carried out without discount.
After the half-pillar incense, the little official Tang Zuwang was sandwiched by two servants of the county guard mansion and walked in nervously.
"See, I've seen Wei, Lord Wei" looked forward to the opportunity to talk to Wei Zheng every day, and when the opportunity really came in front of him, Tang Zuwang's tongue was knotted, and he bowed down and stumbled to salute.
"No courtesy" Wei Zheng is very easy-going, and there is a coldness hidden in his politeness, "Sit down and talk, I have some small things here that I need to discuss with you" As he spoke, he raised his hand and motioned to the servants on the left and right to bring a stool for John Tang, and ordered with a smile: "Go and get a bowl of hot tea for Lord Tang, remember to put more ginger, on such a cold day, don't let the cold invade your muscles and bones."
"It's okay, it's really okay" Although his whole body was already drenched in rain, the little official Tang Ruowang was still warmed by Wei Zheng's words, bowed down again, and said with a little gratitude: "Subordinate, subordinate is a slut, drenched, this little rain is nothing."
If the lord has something to say, even if he commands, as long as his subordinates can do it, they will never dare to refuse."
"It's not an order, it's a discussion," Wei Zheng smiled modestly, "You can sit on the hot tea for a while."
Let's talk after warming up first, it's still early, don't rush to work at this moment."
After the order was finished, Wei Zheng no longer looked at Tang Zuwang's flattered expression.
He lowered his head and carefully flipped through the stack of ledgers in front of him.
Seeing that Lord Changshi ignored him, Tang Zuwang didn't dare to be polite anymore, so he had to lean and sit on the stool for half of his buttocks.
The heart in the belly is like a rabbit, knock knock, knock knock, and it will jump out of its throat at any time.
"It's not a big deal" Wei Zheng still didn't look up, and there was an unspeakable majesty in his voice, "Isn't this about to be sown in spring, Lord County Shou cares about farming, let me see if the seeds in the warehouse are ready."
After the spring ploughing, there will definitely be a period of green and yellow crops, and the grain stocks in the treasury must also be checked to see if we can temporarily open a few porridge sheds to help the people tide over the immediate difficulties."
"That, that, the subordinate is an accountkeeper.
I know a lot," Tang Zu looked at it and responded with a sad face.
Although he did not answer the question, his heart was beating less happily, and his hands and feet had temporarily found a place to put them.
"It's okay, I've just looked at your ledger and can figure it out from the numbers.
Specific statistics and summary, naturally I will ask the master of the store, and it will not make you embarrassed" Wei Zheng was very considerate of the other party's distress and said indifferently.
What is on the books may not be in the warehouse.
What is not on the books, there may not be nothing in the warehouse, this is the rule of the Great Sui Dynasty, and it can only be understood but not spoken.
Now that Wei Changshi understands the truth, there is no need for Master Tang's heart to keep mentioning it.
He smiled wryly and added in a low voice, "Actually, in fact, adults also know that small officials like me and others like me will always act according to orders."
Wei Zheng also smiled, noncommittal, and continued to scan the account books with his eyes.
There was silence between the two of them, and Tang Zuwang was bored, and his buttocks writhed uneasily on the stool like nails.
Fortunately, this silence did not last long, and after a small half-column of incense, the servant brought the freshly boiled hot tea, poured a bowl for the host and guest, and then bowed down and retreated, and closed the door.
"Master Tang uses tea" Wei Zheng raised his head and gestured with his hand to please.
"Don't dare, don't dare, please use it first" Tang Zuwang hurriedly jumped off the stool and bowed his hand.
Wei Zheng smiled faintly and picked up the teacup and drank it slowly.
Tang Zuwang waited for a while, and found that no one was polite to him anymore, so he had to smirk a few times, pick up the tea bowl, and taste it one by one.
It is the best Henan tribute tea, carefully blended with spices, refined salt and ginger slices, and when drunk into the throat, it is like drinking wine, and there is a warm feeling from the throat to the lower abdomen.
After half a bowl of hot tea fell into his stomach, Tang Zuwang's anxiety in his heart was gone, and his face didn't look as pale as before, but instead had a faint red.
"My subordinates have never drunk such good tea" With a bit of smoke, he had nothing to say.
"I want three hundred dollars a tael, the county guard gave it, otherwise I can't afford to drink" Wei Zheng suddenly became tacky and showed off unabashedly.
"This, this is the blessing of the nobleman's subordinates who drink things today" Tang Zuwang was taken aback by the price of tea, put down the teacup, and his face was full of gratitude.
"You usually can't drink" Wei Zheng frowned slightly, as if he didn't believe Tang Zuwang's compliment.
"I remember, your salary is two and a half a month, and there are firewood money, clothing money and winter money distributed from time to time in the county guard yamen throughout the year, how can you not even afford to drink a bowl of good tea?"
"My lord, my lord doesn't know anything" Tang Zuwang smiled bitterly and replied curtly, "There is an old mother in the lowly family who is riddled with illness, and the expenses are very large.
There are two sons and a daughter to support.
In the early years, I could find some subsidies in the fields outside the city, but now the army is in chaos, and I can't get a few grains of grain even if I hire people to plant the land."
Saying this, the smile on his face slowly turned bitter, and he shook his head, as if all he drank to his mouth at the moment was full of bile.
"In this way, the two half-pay salaries are tighter" Wei Zheng glanced at the other party and said very sympathetically.
"You have to live no matter what" Tang Zuwang lowered his head and responded with some sadness.
At his level, officials are not officials, officials are not officials, they have no real power to reap benefits, and they can't see the hope of promotion.
"That's not as good as catching fast in the yamen, so someone is filial," Wei Zheng is intimate, and he is clear about the local rules.
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"Not really," Tang Zuwang shrugged with a smile.
Suddenly realized that this was complaining in front of his boss, he quickly sat up straight and said loudly, "But the lowly position will never dare to deal with errands, all the money, food and wealth handled, there are discrepancies, and they are recorded in the record."
"I know," Wei Zheng tapped the ledger, "it can be seen from here that you are a careful person."
I also know how to do things."
Tang Zuwang smirked "hehehehe", he really regarded Wei Zheng as a confidant in his heart, and he couldn't wait to pounce on him and hug the other party's thigh and shout: I am willing to go to the soup for the adult.
Before he could recover from his happiness, Wei Zheng cleared his throat and continued: "There is nothing good to be gained, and you never dare to be corrupt, so you will find another way to make money by yourself and sell the news to the bandit Caokou."
Boom was like being hit by a thunderbolt, and Tang Zuwang suddenly stayed on the spot.
He knew what I was doing, and he was amazed, panicked, desperate, and all kinds of bad emotions were mixed together, and he didn't know how to find relief.
I wanted to jump up and take the road, but I found that my legs suddenly didn't obey the call, and I couldn't lift half of my strength softly "Say, why don't you speak" Wei Zheng was still the same as just now, with a smile in his eyes, and his words were not shocked.
"I, I, my subordinates, my subordinates have been wronged" Tang Zuwang struggled a few times but couldn't muster up the courage to escape, fell to his knees with a thud, and cried on the ground.
"Lord Wei Mingjian, his subordinates are really wronged.
His subordinates like to inquire about things, but they have never colluded with any rogues, let alone betrayed any news."
"Yes, then you have been listening to the details of the battle of the Yellow River these days, just to be curious" Wei Zheng asked with a smile, debunking Tang Zuwang's lies on the spot, "You, a small official in charge of the account book, when did you like military affairs, you are not satisfied with knowing the winners and losers, and even the detailed process of the battle between the two sides, the casualty figures want to be clear."
"Subordinate, subordinate," Tang Zuwang continued to howl, unable to answer Wei Zheng's question at all.
Collusion with bandits is a crime of losing his head, he didn't dare to admit it, and he couldn't deny it, so he had to wipe a few handfuls of tears, crying and explaining: "My subordinates are indeed listening to military planes indiscriminately, and my subordinates should be damned."
But my subordinates only told a few friends, and I really don't know any bandits."
Wei Zheng snorted, and his voice suddenly turned higher, "What do they do and haven't given you money?"
"Yes, it's a friend who does business," Tang Zuwang replied stubbornly.
"What he was doing, the little one didn't inquire carefully.
I met while drinking, and I have been coming and going with it lately."
"Have you ever received money from others?"
"This, this" Tang Zuwang hesitated again and again, knowing that he would definitely not be able to hide it, so he responded with a crying voice, "Accept it."
I have only received it twice.
The subordinates are too stupid, and the subordinates were deceived by him" Wei Zheng shook his head and continued to sneer, "Yes, you are too stupid, you will tell others whatever they ask."
If you don't know, you should also help someone inquire.
Just for a few dollars, for a few dollars, I took a lifetime of errands, maybe I have to put a head" "My lord's life, my lord's life" Tang Zuwang was so frightened that he almost peed into his pants, "There is still an old mother in the subordinate family, and a wife and children in the room."
Adults spare their lives, adults spare their lives."
"Did I say I was going to kill you" Wei Zheng's voice suddenly changed again, not as cold as before, but faintly with a bit of contempt.
At this time, who cares about contempt or not, Tang Zuwang didn't dare to look at Wei Zheng's face, and kowtowed heavily on the ground, "That guy's name is Huangya Bao, and he lives in Mishi Hutong."
The adults give the little one a chance, and the little one immediately catches him for the adults."
"Catch it, what do you want to do it," Wei Zheng asked knowingly.
"He, he may be a spy planted by bandits in Wuyang County" Tang Zuwang paused again, and reported it very unjustly.
Wei Zheng knocked on the table and asked with a sneer: "The news you sold to him earlier, it is estimated that he has already been sent to Juluze."
What you don't know, he doesn't know right now.
What is the use of me arresting him, and the thief will send another spy, how much effort will it take me to investigate" Tang Zuwang couldn't cope with the series of arrow-like questions, his eyes widened, and he looked at Wei Zheng's face blankly.
He found that Wei Zheng didn't seem to plan to capture the thief and spy alive, and he didn't seem to plan to arrest him, a traitor, to make meritorious contributions.
He didn't even plan to hand him over to the county keeper, but just tasted the tea slowly, as if there were countless secrets hidden in the tea.
"My lord" suddenly felt a blessing, Tang Ruowang climbed a few steps forward, and picked up a small silver bean in both hands, "My lord, this is a thief who buys it, and does not bribe the villain's tea money, the little one does not dare to betray the fathers and villagers of Wuyang County, and now hand it over to the public."
"You put it away yourself" Wei Zheng was amused by the other party's stupid behavior, stood up with his sleeves brushed, and commanded with his hands behind his back.
"My lord" At this moment, Tang Zuwang was dumbfounded.
Since he didn't want to arrest him, and he didn't want to find fault and ask for bribes, Wei Zheng Wei had to give an explanation for which medicine he bought in his gourd, and he couldn't just suffocate people to death When he was confused, Wei Zheng's voice suddenly came from overhead, "Your family is poor, you are an official and honest and self-controlled, you can forgive the money when you go to a fork in the road, you keep it for Lingtang to see a doctor, don't let her old man be disappointed in you" "My lord" Tang Zuwang let out a wail, and snot and tears flowed down together.
By now, he was completely dead set on Wei Zheng, "You show me a clear way, and the little one will be sold to you."
Whether to kill that dog thief, or continue to be false with him, the little ones will listen to you."
Wei Zheng turned his head and confirmed with a smile, "Really listen to me" Tang Zuwang raised his arm and responded loudly, "The little one can swear to the sky" "There's no need" Wei Zheng looked at him and responded very confidently, "You stand up first, let's talk slowly" "Subordinate" "Stand up, it's the first thing I've asked you to do" Tang Zuwang wiped his face, snot and tears were full of bells and whistles, "subordinates obey orders" to say this, he stood up, stood in front of Wei Zheng respectfully, hung his head and listened to the fall.
This is exactly the effect Wei Zheng wants.
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"You, since you're timid, why do you want to do such a thing" He smiled and patted the other party's shoulder, almost slapping Tang Zuwang to the ground again, "I won't report you, and I won't punish you."
I need you to contact the guy surnamed Bao and personally help me deliver a letter to Juluze."
"Send the letter" Tang Zuwang was stunned for a moment, and then quickly realized that this was equivalent to asking for his life.
Zhang Jin said that he likes to eat people's hearts raw, and he brought the war book of the magistrate of Wuyang County to the past, isn't it equivalent to washing himself and putting it on the other party's board As soon as his legs went limp, he fell to his knees again, and a series of wails came out of his mouth.
"My family, my family" Before he could move his mother, wife and children out, Wei Zheng pulled his shoulder hard and shouted: "It's a little promising, don't let me look down on you and stand up for me, isn't it just a letter, do people dare to open a shop under our noses, we don't even have the courage to send a letter."
"Big" Tang Zuwang was pulled and grinned, but his crying stopped.
He didn't want Wei Zheng to look down on him, and he didn't want to cause more trouble to himself and his family because he refused the other party's request.
After hesitating for a moment, he muttered, "I'm afraid, I'm afraid that the surname Bao won't help."
"You tell him directly, I already know that he is an undercover agent of Juluze.
But I don't want to arrest him for the time being" Wei Zheng simply gave a solution.
"Then tell him that I asked you to send a letter to King Zhang, and if you don't go, even you will take him to arrest him."
It's really a literati who play tricks, even if it's a hooligan, he has to be afraid of three points.
Tang Zuwang was so frightened that he trembled again, raised his head, and his face was full of pleading.
Wagged his tail and begged for mercy for a long time, but he didn't get any response.
He knew that this was already Wei Zheng's bottom limit, and if he didn't know what was going on, he was afraid that he would be immediately handed over to the county guard yamen for strict interrogation.
At that time, the evidence will be conclusive, the crime will be unforgivable, and if you die, your wife and children will be implicated.
Thinking of this, he turned his heart sideways and said loudly: "I have done something wrong in my humble position, and I should indeed explain something."
Being able to die at the hands of thieves instead of being beheaded by the county keeper is not a disgrace to the ancestors.
If you can't come back, please ask Lord Wei to give his subordinates' wives and children some pensions for the sake of being an honest official.
If the adults can agree, the little ones will repay the kindness of the adults in the next life."
"What is dead, alive, what will be like in the next life, who can say clearly" Wei Zheng smiled and counted in a low voice.
"You, when you should be bold, you are not small, and when you should be bold, you are not small.
Sit down, I'll tell you slowly, as long as you do it, I'll keep you coming back alive, maybe you can get a big reward from Zhang Jincheng."
"Please make it clear" Tang Zuwang didn't believe Wei Zheng's words at all, but sat on the stool resignedly, waiting for the other party's guidance.
"This letter is not a war letter" Wei Zheng knocked on the sealed envelope and explained with a smile, "This is my letter to Zhang Da's family, I, the magistrate of Wuyang County, Shi Weizheng, don't want to see the soldiers rise again and be devastated, so I am ready to persuade Zhang Da's family to give up the snooping on Wuyang County."
However, no one will appreciate empty white teeth.
So send a letter and ask how much grain Wuyang County pays every year to buy a year of peace."
"Then, the county guard" Tang Zuwang couldn't believe his ears, looked at Wei Zheng, and asked blankly.
He knew that betraying the news to the rogues was enough to kill his family.
Unexpectedly, Wei Zheng was more bold than himself, and he dared to openly contact the thief, in order to survive for a while.
Wei Zheng shrugged his shoulders, his face full of the meaning of one person doing things and one person doing things, "I haven't asked Lord County Guard, and Lord County Guard won't agree."
But what I've done, the county keeper will definitely be kept secret, you know."
"The little one understands, the little one understands" After all, people who have been in the officialdom for half their lives, this is a bit boring, Tang Zuwang doesn't understand.
The panic in my heart went to seven points, accompanied by a smiling face, and responded repeatedly.
"This is a good thing that I, Wei Zheng, did in private from Lord County Shou.
You, just running errands, don't know the contents of the letter, because I threatened your wife and children, so you don't dare to refuse me.
Wei Zheng paused and continued to emphasize.
Tang Zuwang knew that the reason why the other party said this was to prepare that in case of a mistake, one person would bear all the blame and not implicate himself. couldn't help but feel warm in his heart again, lowered his head, and said in a low voice: "I know what the adults say."
You can rest assured, the little ones don't know anything and haven't heard of anything.
But as long as the little one lives in the future, he will never forget what the adults have done today."
"I'm a pavilion potter, this is my hometown" A real smile appeared on Wei Zheng's face, as if he was talking to himself, and as if he was talking to Tang Zuwang.
"When people live, they must do something, otherwise they will be sorry for themselves and the teachings written by the ancients" With a sigh, he turned his conversation back to the topic, "I won't say much other nonsense, you remember a few words that are most important."
I will prepare two gifts for you, both of which are valuable, but there are differences.
You gave the most valuable share to Cheng Mingzhen, and the almost one to Zhang Jincheng.
If someone asks the reason, you will say that I am originally from Guantao, and I am half a fellow countryman with Cheng Jiuye.
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The people of Guantao have not forgotten the benefits of Cheng Jiuye."
"Hmm" Tang Zuwang nodded again and again, lest he miss a word.
"When you go to Juluze, Zhang Jin said that it will definitely scare you.
But you can't beg for mercy, the more you beg for mercy, the faster you will die" Wei Zheng glanced at him and continued to add, "If you are afraid, tell yourself that it is a death anyway, it is better to die decently" Tang Zuwang thought for a while, nodded and agreed, "I know, don't worry."
Anyway, I'm not afraid of a dead adult, I'm still afraid of a ball."
"Then you told Zhang Jin that I knew all the sentry he had planted in Wuyang County.
In order to show sincerity, that's why those people were left untouched.
If you die, those spies will have to die for you.
Also, if you die, there will be no second person who will dare to write the book, and the suggestion I made in my letter will be fulfilled in one of them."
"Third, you told Zhang Jin that I had witnessed the battle on the ice of the Yellow River.
If he wanted to know the details, he could write to him, regardless of the situation.
The letter will be delivered to the Yellow Tooth Bowna, and he will deliver it to you.
Then you pass it on to me.
I don't know a third person other than the two of you."
This is already clearly arranging a retreat for the next scholar, and he can't help but be moved.
His eyes were red, and the little official Tang Zuwang choked up and said: "My lord, my lord's kindness, my subordinates, my subordinates don't know how to repay it."
Anyway, I'll do whatever the adults arrange.
I will never let you down and make you look down on me."
"Sit, let's sit and talk" Wei Zheng sat up straight and motioned for the other party to sit upright.
"People have to do things that others don't look down on before they can be looked down upon by everyone.
From today on, the lives of the 2.3 million fathers and villagers in Wuyang County are tied to the shoulders of the two of us.
If it is done, no one may remember the benefits of you and me.
If the matter fails, no one will set up a wine for the two of us.
But sooner or later, the truth will be revealed, and when the living people see you and my children in the future, they will also give them a thumbs up, saying that their grandfather is a true hero, Lao Tzu is a hero, and his son will not be a bad seed."
"My lord, what did you say" Tang Zuwang wiped his eyes hard, his face was full of tears, but his back was straight.
He was proud of himself, even though this pride was like fire, and it took his life to burn it, "I know, I know everything" "Go back and clean up today, and come to me tomorrow to pick up gifts and letters" Wei Zheng smiled and pulled away the other party's hand, looked into Tang Zuwang's eyes and commanded.
"I will not dishonor my life, my lord" Tang Zuwang stood solemnly and agreed.
"Go" Wei Zheng waved his hand and ordered the other party to leave.
Then he held the teacup and slowly walked to the window.
The hurried thunderstorm shook the world outside, and under the white vapour, there was a faint piece of greenery, which could not be extinguished or washed away
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