Qin Shizhi's Confucian junior master

Chapter 474, take action

After Ziyou was dismissed from office in public, the whole of Xianyang fell into a strange calm.

Han Fei looked anxious and hurried to the King's Mansion. When he saw Mo Ya still sitting in the concierge of the King's Mansion, Han Fei, who was nervous, breathed a sigh of relief and held the door of the King's Mansion.

"Mo Crow, where is the junior brother?" Han Fei gasped.

Han Fei did not participate in yesterday's North Korean meeting, but reported illness at home. In addition, he accidentally drank the wine as a potion and slept until today. After hearing others say that Ziyou had been dismissed from office, Han Fei went all the way. He ran to the Wangshi Mansion at a trot.

"Ninth Young Master, why are you here? Please come in quickly." Mo Ya stood up and helped Han Fei into the Wangshi Mansion.

"I won't say any polite words. I'm here to see my junior brother. How could he be dismissed from office?" Han Fei asked.

"I don't know about this matter either. I'm not the one in charge of what Sir is going to do. He is in the back garden right now," Mo Ya said.

"I'll go right away." Han Fei, who had taken two steps, suddenly turned around and asked, "Besides me, has anyone else come here in the past two days?"

"Master Zhang Cang came here yesterday, Master Li Si just left, and Mr. Yan Lu just came." Mo Ya said.

When he heard that the people who came were all close to Confucian and Ziyou, the panic on Han Fei's face disappeared, and he smiled and walked towards the back garden in a relaxed manner.

Looking at Han Fei who suddenly felt relaxed, Mo Ya shrugged.

When Han Fei came to the back garden, Ziyou and Yan Lu were talking about the map. Han Fei slowed down and approached the two of them gently. Han Fei saw the map they were studying through the gap between their heads. It was a detailed map of East County, with specific names and families marked on each city.

"Junior brother, are these the locations of your disciples?" Han Fei said, looking at the map.

"Yes." Ziyou said.

Yan Lu saluted Han Fei. Han Fei looked at the two people who were not surprised at all by his sudden arrival and said

"Why aren't you surprised?"

"Senior brother Ziyou is a great master, and I have also entered the realm of a grandmaster. No matter how soft your steps are, we can detect it," Yan Lu said.

"I really envy you martial arts practitioners." A trace of envy flashed in Han Fei's eyes.

"Senior brother, did you also come to ask me about the king's dismissal of me from office?" Ziyou asked.

"I was really anxious before entering the King's Palace, but after I heard Mo Ya say that someone was coming to see you, I no longer worried about this matter. If my guess is correct, you will be dismissed from office. It's to get rid of your followers in Dongjun," Han Fei said with a smile.

"I really can't hide it from you." Ziyou said with a smile.

"I am also worried about the affairs of retainers. It's just that the matter of supporting retainers has been around since the Spring and Autumn Period. For powerful people, retainers are their strength. Trying to get them to give up their power is tantamount to It's just a dream told by an idiot." Han Fei shrugged and said.

"The affairs of retainers cannot be tolerated. The implementation of the imperial examination not only screened out outstanding talents for the Qin State, but also gave talented people a way to directly serve the king. But the number of officials in the Qin State has a limit, and the world There are countless people with talent and learning. It is human nature for some people who have failed to make a career to find a way out and become guests in someone's house. We cannot help but keep the guests, so we can only control the number of guests so that they cannot become a threat." Zi You. said.

"So you and your Majesty want to use the trick of knocking on mountains and shaking tigers to sound the alarm to the people of the world, especially the officials and princes in the court, so that they will start to fear and reject the idea of ​​supporting retainers." Han Fei said with a smile. .

"Not only that, when the censor comes back from Dongjun, most of my retainers will be arrested, and the king will directly issue a maximum number of retainers for one person." Ziyou said.

"It's just treating the symptoms rather than the root cause." Han Fei saw the loopholes at a glance.

The number of retainers can be controlled, but if they are given the title of servants or servants, then even Qin Fa will have no control over them.

"There is no way to ban this matter. We can only beat it to make it feel a little fearful." Ziyou said.

As a Legalist leader who supports absolute centralization, Han Fei thought about it and found that this matter cannot be banned. If it is strictly prohibited, it is likely to cause great turmoil.

"Hey, this matter is really unstoppable." Han Fei changed the topic and asked, "Has your retainer really formed such a huge force in Dongjun?"

"In fact, it's more serious than you think. It can be said that more than half of the rich and powerful officials in the East County belong to them. They have already formed a clique!" Ziyou said with a bit of toothache. He didn't expect that cliques would be so advanced in advance. Already appeared.

Hearing what Ziyou said, Han Fei also understood the seriousness of it.

"What are you going to do? If you take action directly and forcefully, I'm afraid it will cause turmoil in Dongjun. Some people with ulterior motives will also make trouble secretly, disrupting the people's livelihood in Dongjun that took several years to recover. If you are not careful, it will become a problem again. A war-torn place," Han Fei said.

"After all, I am their lord. I will personally go to Dongjun and ask those who are willing to admit their mistakes to correct their mistakes. If they commit serious crimes, let them build tombs. Those who have done harm to nature and justice will be killed directly. ." Ziyou said.

Ying Zheng sent the censor over, which represented Qin's attitude. Ziyou went there again, in his capacity as the master, to suppress these retainers, lest those who had colluded with Zhang Liang jump over the wall and rebel directly. Ziyou is their master, and they rely on Ziyou to grow stronger. If they rebel in front of Ziyou, they will lose the support of the people and be despised by all the people. Even if they want to rebel, they will be nothing more than a splash.

"Perhaps we can use this matter to help the Lingyi system get rid of the situation of being unable to sanction wealthy families." Han Fei said.

The powerful families and the powerful are two different classes. The powerful are just powerful families in the local area that rely on money to gather followers. They collude with officials to stabilize their families and status, but their foundations are shallow and they are politically weak. Most of them are dependent on officials, and they can only influence the local area. Once they leave the local area, they are just like ordinary people. But the wealthy clan is different. The wealthy clan themselves are meritorious and powerful. There are not a few people in their families who are officials. They not only hold money in their hands, but also have great power. In addition, they are meritorious dignitaries and heroes. Unless they commit a major crime such as rebellion, it is impossible to eradicate their family.

Although the mausoleum system used the excuse of helping Yingzheng build a mausoleum to force local powerful people to leave the local area, they also ransacked their homes and used their money to enrich the national treasury. You can do this to the powerful, but if you do this to the powerful, it will cause the entire meritorious and powerful class to become alienated.

Even if Ying Zheng's prestige and Qin's army really forcefully attack the wealthy people, they will not be able to cause trouble. But what about after Ying Zheng? Not all Qin kings can have such high prestige as Ying Zheng. At that time, these wealthy families will grow again and become aristocratic families, and it will be really difficult to control them. Therefore, it can only be determined at the legal level that the mausoleum system can take action against the wealthy families, and at the same time the wealthy families cannot resist. Only in this way can the Qin State be truly guaranteed to continue to suppress the powerful families.

"What are you going to do, senior brother?" Ziyou asked.

"I haven't thought about it yet, but this is indeed a good opportunity. I'll go back and think about it." Han Fei said, touching his chin.

Many of Ziyou's customers are already considered wealthy, so Han Fei thinks it's a good opportunity, but Han Fei hasn't figured out how to do it yet.

"Then senior brother, you can think about it carefully." Ziyou said.

"Ah."

Han Fei came in a hurry and left in despair.

After Han Fei left, Yan Lu, who had been silent, spoke.

"Senior Brother Ziyou, do you really want to take action against these disciples? They are loyal to you." Yan Lu said unbearably.

"The matter has reached this point, and I have no choice. What I can do is to protect them as much as possible." Ziyou shook his head and said.

Ziyou was not surprised that Yan Lu would have such thoughts. Yan Lu's thoughts were serious Warring States thinking. The disciples are loyal to the master, and the master protects the disciples. They think this is the most normal relationship. On the contrary, it weakens the master's strength and makes the disciples loyal to the monarch, which they cannot understand. The only ones who can understand it are probably the Legalists.

Seeing that Ziyou had made up his mind, Yan Lu didn't know what to say. "I will ask the Confucian heroes to go to Dongjun, and I will also ask the local Confucian heroes in Dongjun to take action. They are all relatively prestigious people in the local area and have the most local intelligence. Are these your disciples They are really guilty, and they know it very well," Yan Lu said.

"Thank you so much, junior brother," Ziyou said.

"It's a trivial matter," Yan Lu said.

Wait until Yan Lu leaves. Ziyou looked at the map of Dongjun and remained silent, then looked at the location of Daliang City and said

"Zhang Er, I hope you won't disappoint me."

The news of Ziyou's dismissal from office has spread to Daliang. After learning that Ziyou was guilty of adultery among his disciples, some honest people immediately thought of killing themselves to express gratitude to the world, thus proving that Ziyou was fine. Fortunately, they were discovered by their family members. It can be said that when Ziyou was in danger, it would be better to help Ziyou catch the followers who committed crimes under Ziyou's banner than to commit suicide.

Although they gave up the idea of ​​killing themselves for the time being, they still wrote to Ziyou to express their sincerity. After some people started writing letters, all the retainers started writing letters and asked their servants to send them to Xianyang. Only they themselves know when many of them have ulterior motives.

Outside Daliang City, Zhang Liang's village.

Zhang Liang naturally also got the news of Ziyou's dismissal from office.

"No, let's withdraw!" Zhang Liang said immediately after reading the information.

"Ah?" Wei Yong looked at Zhang Liang in confusion, "Mr. Zifang, why do we have to evacuate? The intelligence said that Ziyou was dismissed from office, but it doesn't mean that we were exposed."

Hearing Wei Yong's question, Zhang Liang, who overreacted, was stunned for a moment and then calmed down.

Looking at Wei Yong's confused eyes, Zhang Liang felt a little ashamed. Zhang Liang has been tricked by Zi You too many times. Every time in South Korea, Shu Mountain, Chu State Army, etc., as long as Zi You suddenly appears in what he is doing, he will definitely suffer heavy losses in the end. Ziyou's retainers were all in Dongjun, and many of them had connections with them. Ziyou was dismissed from office, so Zhang Liang's first thought was to evacuate from Daliang.

"I never thought that I, Zhang Liang, would become a frightened bird one day. I would be so scared just by the word Ziyou." Zhang Liang said with shame.

"Mr. Zifang is serious, you just need to think carefully. Now that Ziyou has been deposed, Yingzheng has sent the censor and Yu Linjun to investigate his retainers. Should we also withdraw the people and destroy the evidence to prevent them from investigating? On our heads." Wei Yong said.

Zhang Liang put down the information and began to think about it.

"This matter may be an opportunity." Zhang Liang said.

"Opportunity? What opportunity?" Wei Yong asked.

"This time the Qin State attached great importance to this matter. Ying Zheng first deposed Ziyou and then sent his own bodyguard Yulin Army to investigate the matter. Obviously, he became suspicious of the entire Dongjun. They will be investigated all over. By then, the entire Dongjun will be in panic. Although most of the officials in Dongjun have been replaced by officials sent by the Qin State, there are still many people who were from the old Wei State. These people must now be all Afraid, they frequently used their power for personal gain or indulged their tribesmen and followers to bully men and dominate women. According to Qin law, the lightest punishment for them was beheading.

If we win over them now, there is a chance we can use their strength to start a rebellion in East County. Tian Zhan, the son of the King of Qi, also made an agreement with me. Now they have contacted some Mohist disciples who want to resist Qin. These people secretly helped Tian Zhan train an army and provided a large amount of armaments. "Zhang Liang said.

"Tian Zhan? The Mo family? Hasn't the Mo family already surrendered to the Qin State? Their status within the Qin State has also increased. How can they still resist the Qin State?" Wei Yong asked in confusion.

"Everyone has his own ambitions. The Mohist ideology does not allow strong countries to attack weak countries. Now the Mohists have surrendered to the Qin State and helped the Qin State to attack other countries. In the eyes of some Mohist disciples, this is a betrayal of the Mohist faith. They have lost sight of the current Mohist family. Confidence and trust, so I want to find other forces to overthrow the Qin State and cleanse the current Mohist family, so as to maintain the Mohist faith." Zhang Liang said.

"I see. I am willing to test the officials of Dongjun on behalf of my husband. Ziyou's retainers can be won over by us, not to mention these ministers of the old Wei State? They can betray Wei and join Qin, and naturally they will do it for themselves. His life once again took refuge in us." Wei Yong said.

"Okay, I'll leave this matter to you. As for Ziyou's retainers, send people to destroy the evidence of the connection between us and them. We are still dormant and cannot let them discover our existence." Zhang Liang said .

"promise!"

When Wei Yong was about to leave, Zhang Liang stopped Wei Yong and asked

"What is Zhang Er's attitude towards us?"

"Still the same as before, he is unwilling to expose us or help us." Wei Yong said, "He was also the most valued retainer of Lord Xinling at the beginning, and he turned to Ziyou and helped Qin open the door to Wei. I don't understand Why do you want me to win over such a seller and seek glory?"

"You are still too young. Zhang Er is not a seller seeking glory. If he really goes astray with Qin, do you think he will help us hide our traces?" Zhang Liang asked.

Wei Yong scratched his head and said

"Anyway, I don't think we should have close friendship with this person. Every time I see him, I always feel that he is planning something."

"The current Zhang Er is no longer the former retainer Zhang Er or the wanted criminal. Now he is the largest wealthy family in the entire East County, and all the retainers are headed by him. Every move he makes now will involve him. Of course he wants to make plans for his family. It doesn’t matter, just continue to send people to contact him." Zhang Liang said.

Regarding Zhang Er, Zhang Liang felt that he was contradictory. On the one hand, Zhang Er wanted the people of Wei to live a good life for Lord Xinling's last wish, but on the other hand, he felt guilty for leading his retainers to betray Wei. Zhang Liang is not afraid of Zhang Er's conflict, but he is afraid that Zhang Er will really follow Ziyou wholeheartedly. As long as people have contradictory things in their hearts, others will inevitably take advantage of them.

"it is good."

Wei Yong handed over and left Zhang Liang's courtyard to carry out the order given to him by Zhang Liang.

In the State of Qi, King Jian of Qi, who had returned to the Palace of Qi in Zibo, was kneeling in front of the ranks of the ancestors of the Tian family.

"My ancestors are on high, and the unfilial descendant Tian Jian bows to me. Tian Jian is unfilial and has reached an agreement with the State of Qin. He is prepared to surrender the State of Qi in exchange for the State of Qin letting the people and clan of the State of Qi be spared. Tian Jian is unfilial and is ashamed of himself. Ancestors. But now the Qin State is so powerful that it is no longer comparable to the Qi State. Once a war breaks out, the Qi State will surely perish, and the people of Qi State will still suffer from the suffering of the war.

Although Tian Jian did not have the ability or ambition to conquer Qi, he could not bear to see the people of Qi die tragically for a losing war. Please also ask the ancestors to forgive Tian Jian. "Qi Wangjian kowtowed three times and said.

After everything was said, King Qi Jian burned three sticks of incense in front of the memorial tablet and left the ancestral temple.

The servant outside the ancestral temple saw Tian Jian coming out and stepped forward and said

"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Hou Sheng has been waiting for you for a long time."

"Where is he?" Qi Wangjian asked.

"Waiting for you in the main hall." The chamberlain said.

"Well, come with me."

Qi Wangjian headed towards the main hall.

Hou Sheng in the hall was stroking his gray beard, staring at the floor in front of him, thinking about the purpose of Qi Wangjian summoning him. At first Qi Wangjian refused to let him go as an envoy to Qin, saying that he would let others go, but in the end he went alone, which made Hou Sheng feel a sense of danger.

Wang Jian of Qi has always been a puppet in Hou Sheng's eyes. Back then, the queen was in charge. Although Hou Sheng had overwhelming power over Qi, he did not dare to neglect Wang Jian in the slightest. But after the death of the Queen, no one in the entire Qi Kingdom could check and balance him. Qi Wangjian once became his puppet. Now Qi Wangjian began to escape from his control, which made him a little worried.

Footsteps sounded outside the hall, and Hou Sheng came to his senses. After Qi Wangjian entered the hall, Hou Sheng also bowed in a formal manner.

"Prime Minister, I summon you here this time to discuss the future of our country of Qi." King Jian of Qi said while sitting on the throne.

(End of this chapter)