Follow Zhu Yuanzhang to conquer the country

Chapter 101 Zhu Yuanzhang read the sacred book given by Zhang Cheng and became enlightened!
  Li Zhai.

Li Mengxin was sitting in the rocking chair, eating sweet-scented osmanthus cake, and said with a smile to Li Menggen:
  "Brother, there are already nine generals and commanders who are willing to give us the withheld food and salary to sell."

"This means that they are willing to work together with our Li family. I believe that in the near future, more and more generals will be willing to cooperate with us."

"When the time comes, even if Guo Zixing is unwilling to execute Zhu Yuanzhang, we can force him to execute Zhu Yuanzhang!"

"Just reselling military rations together is not enough to control more generals."

"We still have to control the arms factory!"

At this time, Li Menggen walked up to Li Mengxin with his hands behind his back and said.

After hearing this, Li Mengxin raised his head and glanced at him: "Why?"

"How can an ordnance factory that produces such powerful firearms not be under our control?"

Li Menggeng said with a cold smile.

then.

Li Menggeng said: "What is certain is that Zhang Cheng, who is outside, will definitely send people back to order firecrackers to strengthen his own strength. If the ordnance factory is controlled by outsiders, then the profits here belong to us, and we can also So befriend him Zhang Cheng."

"Not only can you make friends with Zhang Cheng, but you can also make friends with the officers and soldiers, and even other rebels."

"Presumably, Zhang Cheng is not the only one who will be interested in this firearm in the future."

"In addition, if this ordnance factory is controlled by us, it will be another escape route for us. In this way, even if the Guo family cannot conquer the world in the future, it will have no impact on us."

Li Menggeng looked back at his brother Li Mengxin and started talking with a smile.

Li Mengxin nodded: "That's true."

"I have made a tentative request to Guo Zixing to supervise the construction of the ordnance factory. The reason is that Zhu Yuanzhang's people are not trustworthy."

Li Mengeng started talking.

Li Mengxin stood up quickly: "Did Guo Zixing agree?"

"He didn't say no!"

"But no matter what, this ordnance factory must be controlled by us. You can find a way to follow the Guo family's path."

Li Menggeng said and gave instructions to his younger brother Li Mengxin.

As soon as Li Menggen finished speaking, Zhang Tianyou barged in and ordered: "Take Li Mengxin!"

"Yes!"

As soon as Zhang Tianyou finished speaking, a large number of soldiers rushed up and detained Li Mengxin.

Li Mengxin was shocked when he saw this: "What are you doing?!"

Li Menggeng was also very surprised.

After a while, Li Menggeng pretended to be shocked and angry and asked Li Mengxin: "Have you done anything to disgrace the commander-in-chief behind my back?!"

Snapped!
  Zhang Tianyou came over and gave Li Mengxin a slap in the face: "Be honest! You are such a corrupt official with a black heart, I get angry just looking at you!"

talking.

Zhang Tianyou asked people to drag Li Mengxin to Guo Zixing.

When Li Mengxin found out that he was dragged to the nursing home, he knew what was going on. He couldn't help but panic and shouted: "Commander! I was wronged!"

"Why are you being wronged? Who else but people like you can get so much moldy food at once?"

"Can he, Prince Zhu, take it out?"

"I can't even take it out!"

Guo Zixing said and kicked Li Mengxin: "Why did we use a bastard like you to be the food and magistrate!"

Li Mengxin's face twisted in pain.

And this time.

Guo Zixing pointed to the babies and children in the courtyard and said to Li Mengxin:
  "Look at how pitiful these children are, how can you bear to feed them your moldy food!"

Li Mengxin was in so much pain that he didn't have much energy to speak. He could only say weakly: "Commander, spare your life!"

"Give it to him!"

"After you drink it, pull it out and chop it!"

Guo Zixing gave orders.

"Yes!"

As a result, Li Mengxin's mouth was pinched by Guo Zixing's soldiers, and then he was crazily fed moldy food.

Li Mengxin's mouth felt bitter because of the imported moldy grain, so he had to struggle. He vomited the moldy rice while struggling, looking very uncomfortable.

An hour later, Li Mengxin was fed a belly full of moldy raw rice, which made her belly fat several times. She was also taken to the market to be chopped up.

Li Menggeng was already kneeling in front of the Marshal's Mansion, asking Guo Zixing to apologize.

But Guo Zixing did not see him immediately.

Ren Zhigong walked up to Li Mengeng and whispered:

"are you OK?"

"Guo Zixing, this evil thief is so ruthless! He treats my official son like a rotten dog. I wish I could chop him up alive!"

Li Menggeng said this in a low voice because Ren Zhigong was one of his own.

"Just bear with it."

"The imperial army is still dealing with other demon thieves, and they haven't had the chance to suppress him, Guo Zixing."

Ren Zhigong replied.

Li Menggeng gnashed his teeth and said, "I can't bear it!"

"These monster thieves, we scholar-bureaucrats are already willing to be his lackeys, but he still wants to inflict severe torture on us at every turn. He killed Guo Jingxiang the day before yesterday, and today he chopped my beloved brother into pieces!"

Li Menggeng said angrily.

He really couldn't accept that Guo Zixing didn't distinguish between them and the common people.

and.

The fact that his younger brother was being punished for corruption and harming the orphans and children of the common people, in Li Menggeng's view, was undoubtedly a sign of disregard for the noble and the lowly!

Need to know.

From the time when the Song Dynasty did not kill scholar-officials to the present Yuan Dynasty, scholar-officials have always been treated favorably. Especially when the sins and corruption of scholar-officials harmed the people, there is a tendency for them to be treated more and more favorably.

To put it more fundamentally, in the past few hundred years, the ruling class has strengthened the hierarchical order and widened the status gap between the noble and the humble.

Therefore, Li Menggeng could not accept or understand that his brother was punished because he harmed the orphans and children of the people.

"You have to endure it even if you can't bear it!"

Ren Zhigong said sternly to Li Mengeng.

"Right now, in Chuzhou, etiquette and music are ruined, and power is being exercised recklessly. You don't know that!"

"Guo Zixing didn't kill him without teaching him this time, he took advantage of the righteousness."

"We can't say anything. We have to say that he killed him rightly. After all, we officials can't admit that it's not a big deal for those babies to be harmed, nor can we admit that it's okay for the master to severely punish the guilty ministers. It is an immoral act, not to mention that the sage’s words also say that we must put the people first, so we cannot clearly deny the sage’s words.”

Then, Ren Zhigong couldn't help but elaborate a few more words.

Although Guo Zixing came from a powerful family background, he was indeed a powerful person among the common people and not a big bureaucrat or landowner. Therefore, in Ren Zhigong's eyes, he was still considered reckless and rude. It is true that Guo Zixing still has the habit of a reckless hero. He is like Chao Gai in "Water Margin". He made friends with green forest heroes and started his career. He is more influenced by the simple thoughts of the lower class people, and he also identifies more with simple brotherhood and ethics. There really isn't much of a concept of class, so there is more disgust towards corrupt officials than tolerance.

What's more.

As long as Guo Zixing is not too stupid, he also knows that he has just started a rebellion. If he corrupts officials and harms the people at this time, it will still damage his own foundation. Especially after he finds out the truth of this matter, he must do something The appearance of hating corrupt officials very much should be seen by the rebel military officers who come from the lower class of the people, rather than just caring about the feelings of some officers and officers who come from the landlord and bureaucratic class.

There is a balance to be struck here.

However, when Guo Zixing had solid evidence, he severely punished Li Mengxin, who was a landlord and bureaucrat. Officials from the government schools who were a landlord and bureaucrat could not say anything, they could only be angry but dare not speak.

That's why Ren Zhigong told Li Mengeng now that he had to endure it even if he couldn't bear it.

Li Menggen also knew this truth, so after venting his anger, he just asked Ren Zhigong in a deep voice: "Why did Guo Zixing suddenly come to investigate this matter?"

"According to our people at the nursing home, it was Zhang Tianyou and Guo Tianlu who took Guo Zixing to investigate, and a large amount of moldy grain was found during the investigation."

Ren Zhigong replied.

"Zhang Tianyou!"

"Is it related to the Zhang family?"

Li Mengeng suddenly raised his head and asked.

Ren Zhigong nodded: "Mr. Ma met Mrs. Zhang, and then there was the matter of Zhang Tianyou taking Guo Zixing to investigate the case."

"Mr. Ma?"

After asking, Li Menggeng said: "I understand."

Then, Li Menggen couldn't help but gnashed his teeth: "This despicable poisonous woman!"

"According to our people in the Guo family, Ma gave a big gift to the Zhang family, saying that he would transfer the ordnance factory to the Zhang family, and it also included goods worth 30,000 taels of silver from Zhang Cheng."

Ren Zhigong continued.

"It's Zhang Cheng again!"

Li Menggeng gave a bitter laugh and said: "In this way, it's all because Zhang Cheng brought this goods worth thirty thousand taels of silver, allowing the Zhang family to compete with us for profit, and also encouraged Guo Zixing to punish us. power!"

"Exactly!"

"If Guo Zixing is the emperor now, his Zhang family will be the harem plus relatives. Zhu Yuanzhang used the benefits brought by Zhang Cheng to win the concubines and relatives to his side."

Ren Zhigong replied.

Li Menggeng nodded: "The relatives in the harem have always spoiled Chao Gang!"

"That's right, this Mr. Zhang wants to maximize his profits, and then drags his relatives in, which will lead to the death of your younger brother."

Ren Zhigong said.

After hearing this, Li Mengeng also gritted his teeth and said: "Looking back to the origin, Chuzhou City is now like this. The fields have been cleared, the luxury tax has been increased, government merchants have opened, the rebels have to raise orphans, and loyal ministers kneel in the city and are scolded as The Han thieves are all related to him, Mr. Zhang. This man is also the son of an official and a scholar, but he comes to undermine us. He is really causing a lot of harm!"

"But we can't offend him."

"You can't even quarrel with him."

"We can only show kindness to him to prevent him from forcing Guo Zixing to kill us."

"After all, he has talent, money, food and troops, and he is still outside. Guo Zixing can't offend him because of us."

"This is different from Zhu Yuanzhang."

Ren Zhigong replied.

"That's right!"

"Zhu Yuanzhang is a tiger in a cage. If you offend him, you don't have to worry about him biting someone. But Zhang Cheng is a dragon swimming outside. He can cause trouble at any time. We can't offend him, we can only make friends!"

"So, we still have to find a way to get rid of Zhu Yuanzhang first. The blame for my beloved brother's being chopped can only be attributed to him, Zhu Yuanzhang!"

"Even if Guo Zixing is not willing to get rid of Zhu Yuanzhang, he must be asked by other members of the Guo family to get rid of Zhu Yuanzhang!"

Ren Zhigong nodded and smiled slightly: "Don't worry, the two sons of the Guo family are very willing to get rid of Zhu Yuanzhang now!"
-
  Zhu Yuanzhang soon learned that Guo Zixing personally found out the truth about the corruption case in the nursing home and ordered Li Mengxin to be beheaded.

This made Zhu Yuanzhang very happy.

thus.

While his resentment towards Guo Zixing was greatly reduced, he also admired Zhang Cheng even more.

Because Zhu Yuanzhang had to admit that this time it was fortunate that Zhang Cheng's advance planning had brought great benefits. Otherwise, he alone would not have been able to influence Guo Zixing to be so discerning and iron-fisted in eradicating corruption.

Zhang Cheng's strategy this time also made Zhu Yuanzhang, who was already talented in strategy, realize something.

He began to vaguely feel that Zhang Cheng was trying to make profits first, and then distribute the benefits to determine who should be attracted and who should be suppressed.

In short, in Zhu Yuanzhang's view, Zhang Cheng felt as if he was feeding the chickens in the chicken pen as the master, and then controlling the fighting cocks by feeding them.

Zhu Yuanzhang admired Zhang Cheng more and more for this, and felt that what Zhang Cheng mastered was great wisdom.

and so.

Zhu Yuanzhang also thought of the books Zhang Cheng had given him, and decided to temporarily put aside the history books and classics that he had not finished yet, and directly read the books Zhang Cheng gave him.

Zhu Yuanzhang also had to admit that Zhang Cheng's guess was correct. Guo Zixing did deprive him of his power very quickly, leaving him with nothing to do, but he did have more free time to read.

"The current rise of the peasant movement is a huge problem... Its momentum is like a storm, extremely fast and violent, and no matter how big the force is, it will not be able to suppress it. They will break through all the snares that bind them... Tatar nobles, warlords, corrupt officials The corrupt officials, local tyrants and evil gentry will all be buried in their graves."

"All the rebel brothers will be tested by them and decide whether to reject or reject them. Should they stand in front of them and lead them? Or stand behind them and criticize them? Or stand opposite them and oppose them. Woolen cloth?"

"Every Chinese has the freedom to choose among these three items, but the current situation will force you to choose quickly."

Zhu Yuanzhang first read the book "Investigation of the Peasant Movement", and he read it immediately, and couldn't help but read it to Xu Da who was recovering from his injuries at home.

"The main targets of the peasants' attacks are local tyrants, evil gentry, lawless landlords, various patriarchal ideas and systems, corrupt officials in the city, and bad habits in the countryside. The situation of this attack is simply a storm. Those who comply will survive, and those who violate it will survive. The result is that thousands of years of feudal landowner privileges have been wiped out. The dignity and prestige of the landowners have been wiped out."

“Rebellion is not about treating guests to dinner, making articles, or painting and embroidering. It cannot be so elegant, so leisurely, so gentle, so gentle, courteous, and thrifty..."

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes brightened as he thought about it.

Xu Da on the side also forgot about the pain on his back, and moved over and asked actively: "Sir, Mr. Zhang's book sounds like it is saying that it is right for us to rebel, that we are sweeping away the old and welcoming the new, and rescuing people." The people of the world, it is only the local tyrants and evil gentry who feel that we are wrong, so they call us monsters and thieves. If we also stand opposite the rebels, call the rebels thieves, and admit that the rebels are thieves, it means that we are also standing with them, yes no?"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded: "That's what you mean!"

then.

Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but read another book given to him by Zhang Cheng.

When Xu Da saw that he was writing "Analysis of Various Classes", he couldn't help but said hurriedly: "Idle time is idle. Superior, please read this book to me again and let me listen to it too!"

Zhu Yuanzhang said "hmm" and started reading:
  "Who are our enemies? Who are our friends? This question is the primary question of the rebellion."

"All the rebel struggles in China in the past achieved very little results. People still starved to death. Most of the rebellions failed to succeed and were killed by corrupt officials and evil gentry. The basic reason was that they could not unite real friends to attack the real enemies."

"The landlords and bureaucrats and the Han traitor bureaucrats who work as lackeys for foreign barbarians represent China's most backward and reactionary production relations. Their survival and development are dependent on the invaders who enslave us. They hinder the development of China's productive forces and are extreme reactionaries. It should be eliminated most!”

At this time, the morning sun was rising in the east.

The sun shines into the room, covering the floor with golden light, and both Zhu Yuanzhang and Xu Da are enveloped in the golden sunshine.

Zhu Yuanzhang was thinking attentively while reading.

And not long after.

While Zhu Yuanzhang was thinking about it, he suddenly stood up from the golden sunshine and said excitedly: "That's true! At the same time, we also understand and how to deal with them!"

"Sir, what do you understand?"

Xu Da couldn't help but ask.

(End of this chapter)