The Most Romantic of the Three Kingdoms

As long as it is Zhao Ran's call, Li Hu has always come very quickly.

Zhao Ran didn't get up, pointed to the mat on the side, and said, "Sit."

Li Hu respectfully saluted, sat down at the table, and said to Zhao Ran with a smile: "Chongjiu is approaching, the young master called me, but do you want to invite me to pick chrysanthemum flowers and drink at a high altitude?"

"You can drink wine anytime... Recently I've been feeling uneasy."

Li Hu was stunned.

"I always feel like something is wrong. I slept until the middle of the night the night before, and I didn't know I had a bad dream. I woke up suddenly, the mattress was wet with sweat, and the bedroom was dark at that time. Only a little moonlight penetrated and scattered on the ground, reflecting the bedding. Shadow, I hope it is like a human shadow."

Li Hu didn't understand what Zhao Ran meant. He didn't know what he wanted to express when he mentioned the dream the night before. After hesitating for a while, he said with a blank face, "Would you like to invite someone who is good at Taoism to come and take a look at the house?"

Zhao Ran suddenly felt unhappy when he played the qin to the cow, and said, "It has nothing to do with ghosts and gods."

"That is?"

Zhao Ran's family knew about his own family affairs and knew that he had that nightmare the night before for no other reason. It was precisely because he had been feeling uneasy in recent days and thought about it every day, so he had this dream every night, but was interrupted by Li Huyi. He lost interest in going on, and instead asked casually, "What is Yuzhou'er doing in the county these days?"

"Young Master also knows that Chen Taiqiu passed away. Some time ago, he sent someone to send his wife and concubines back to Yingchuan. After that, he stopped going to court for half a month."

"What I'm asking is what has he been doing in the half month since he left court?"

Zhao Ran asked Li Hu at once.

Since Li Hu was expelled from the court meeting by Xun Zhen last time, he felt ashamed and never entered the prefecture for half a step. He really didn't know exactly what Xun Zhen had been doing in the past half month. Although it is not very clear, I only know a general idea, but I cannot tell the truth. If I tell the truth, it will appear that he is too incompetent. He said: "I heard that he has been a vegetarian for the past two weeks, has not touched a drop of alcohol, and has not sang and danced closely. It seems that he has not done anything."

Zhao Ran suddenly knew why he felt uneasy, and said, "No."

Li Hu jumped for a moment, thinking that Zhao Ran saw that he was trying to hold his face, and hurriedly said: "It's true! Yuzhouer has really done nothing for the past two weeks, just stayed in the house, not even the door. Never been out."

"I didn't say that."

Li Hu breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "That's it?"

"I mean it's not right that he 'did nothing'."

"What do you mean, Young Master?"

"Don't you think he's been too quiet these days?"

"You mean what?"

"He came to the county at the beginning of the year, and he killed my followers, chased the county government officials, and chased Liang's decrees. If you don't hear it, it's weird."

Li Hu exclaimed in his heart, "Why is Yuzhou'er being so ignorant of your family? There's nothing going on! Not long ago, didn't he humiliate me and drive me, the young gentleman's loyal lackey, away from the court!" Seeing Zhao Ran's expression of contemplation, he didn't dare to say these words.

Zhao Ran pondered for a while, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt that something was wrong, and he thought to himself: "The person I sent to Zhao County to inquire came back and told me that Zhao County's people commented on Yuzhou's 'heroic, martial and daring', and he was definitely not a person who gave up halfway. Since he wants to fight against my family, he will definitely not give up easily. In the past two months, he has changed his previous attitude, and he has hardly moved, and there must be some mystery." He asked Li Hu again, "It was more than a month before he left the court. What have you been doing?"

"Busy with autumn harvest, fielding, and inspecting counties to collect taxes."

"that's it?"

Li Hu Xin said, "Isn't this enough?" He had been working in the county for a long time, knowing how busy the county officials would be in August and September, he patiently explained to Zhao Ran, saying, "Young Master, August, 92 Yue is the busiest time of the year for the county. Yuzhouer has no other activity in the past two months, perhaps because he has devoted all his energy to political affairs. He has never served as a county magistrate before. He has no experience in governing the people, so he can't be too busy with political affairs, how can he have time to take care of other things?"

His implication was that Zhao Ran was overthinking it.

After listening to Li Hu's analysis, Zhao Ran thought it was reasonable. After thinking about it carefully, he seemed to be a little overly skeptical. He felt relieved, and turned to talk to Li Hu. Following his words, he sighed regretfully. , said: "It's a pity, a pity."

"What a pity?"

"As you said, Yuzhou Er has never been a county magistrate before, and he has no experience in civil affairs, but unfortunately he has done a good job in the past two months, and he has not made any mistakes. Otherwise, if he can let me arrest him. One mistake in him is enough to drive him out of the county."

Xun Zhen is now the "prefect of the guard" and has not yet turned positive. If Zhao Ran catches a mistake, he may indeed be expelled by Zhao Ran.

Hearing Zhao Ran talking about "expelling Xun Zhen", Li Hu suddenly got excited. After he was humiliated by Xun Zhen last time, he ran to Zhao Ran to cry, but Zhao Ran just perfunctory him impatiently. Send him away, so that he can't take revenge so far, he can't bear it for a long time.

He said, "Even though Yuzhou'er has no faults now, it doesn't mean that he will have no faults in the future."

These words went to Zhao Ran's heart. When Xun Zhen first came to the middle of the county, Zhao Ran believed in the prestige of his family and didn't take him seriously, so he didn't pay enough attention, but as Xun Zhen slowly gained a foothold in Wei County and took control of the situation step by step, he had to start paying attention to Xun Zhen. . He had long been thinking about catching Xun Zhen's mistake and driving her away, but Xun Zhen was cautious, and he never found something that Kezi could use.

"Do you have a way to find out what's wrong with him?"

"I just thought that in order to find his fault, we had to start with him."

"Tell me in detail."

"No matter how cautious Yuzhouer is, it is impossible not to make mistakes. Even if he does not make mistakes in politics, everyone has feelings and desires, likes and hates, and he must have a shortage of personal virtues. Even Confucius also made a 'Zi Jian Nanzi'. What's more, what about Yuzhouer? If he can't catch his political mistakes, why not arrest him for his personal virtues? Yuzhouer comes from a famous family. For him, fame is more important than life. He doesn't accept softness. Personal virtue is a secret thing, and the only way to know his lack of personal virtue is to buy off those close to him."

Zhao Ran was overjoyed, frowned again, and said: "Yuzhou'er is surrounded by many of his villagers and old officials, and he must be loyal to him. It's not easy to start with the people around him."

"Jiang Xian (Xu Zhong), Liu Deng, Chen Dao, Chen Bao, Dian Wei, etc., or their villagers, or they may not be easy to use for the young lord. Xun You, Xun Cheng, Xin Ai, Wen Hiring all the generations, whether for their clan, or for their relatives, or for their family-studied disciples, may not be easy for the young master to use. However, the few Jizhou people around Yuzhou’s children may be able to be used by the young master.”

"Those few people from Jizhou", this refers to people from Zhao County such as Cen Rong, Cheng Jia, Chen Wu, Zhongshan people such as Zhao Yun, Xia Houlan, Yan Meng, and Shen Pei, Luan Gu, Huo Heng, Chen Yi and others who have recently been reused by Xun Zhen of Wei County.

The days of these people following Xun Zhen were short, and their loyalty to Xun Zhen might not be as good as Xu Zhong, Xun You, Dian Wei and others.

Zhao Ran said: "There are quite a few Ji people around Yuzhou's children, so we can't test them one by one. This will startle the snakes and cause Yuzhou's children's vigilance. Which of these Ji people do you think is the most confident?"

"Zhao Yun and Cen Rong have won the trust of Yuzhou's children. One is the guard who is currently in charge of Yuzhou's children with Dian Wei, and the other is now the county master's record. According to the county officials, these two are loyal and straight people, I am afraid it is difficult to win over. Xiahoulan is not close to Yuzhou children. She follows Yuzhou children late and is often in the camp. She should not know much about Yuzhou children's private affairs. It is useless to win over them. Taking the post of Ji Jue in the county, his people are well-known in the county for their stubbornness and loyalty, so it is estimated that they are not easy to win. , Chen Wu and Chen Wu are the most suitable to win over, and Cheng Jia is the most suitable."

"Cheng Jia, Chen Wu? I have never heard of the name of Chen Wu. I have heard of the name of Cheng Jia. I heard that Cheng Jia, like Cen Rong and Zhao Yun, is highly used by Yuzhou children. Minister, tell me why he and Chen Wu are so close?"

"Hu has inquired about Chen Wu's personality, and his personality is not upright. Because he was born in poverty and illiterate, he was only a food pavilion leader before following Yuzhou's children. Therefore, after he took command of the army, the officials in his camp were the first to confront him. He often despises himself. He is a master of strange tricks, and every time he shows his talents, he makes it clear that he is not to be deceived. Please think about it, young master, such a person who can use "strange tricks" to control his subordinates is definitely not an ignorant one. People. Compared with Yuzhou Er and Shaojun, like Yan Que compared with Honghu, Chen Wu will not know which side to choose."

Zhao Ran nodded again and again, and said, "You're right, you're right. ... Why is Cheng Jia trying to win over? The most suitable?"

"Cheng Jia is fond of money, and according to what Hu has heard, this person is the only one who is best to be flattered in Yuzhou's children's mansion and under the tent. Such a greedy and flattering person just needs to give him some money and promise him some future. It’s easy to use! Moreover, Hu also heard that because Xin Ai is a relative of Yuzhou children, he has always been trusted and loved by Yuzhou children, and Cheng Jia wanted to befriend him, but Xin Ai refused to pay attention to him, and heard that Xun Zhen There is a man named Gao Su under the account, who believes that he is a native of Xunzhen's old hometown, and has repeatedly insulted Cheng Jia, or called him by his first name, or called him an 'old sentence', which was very humiliating to him..."

Zhao Ran interrupted him and asked, "What is the 'old sentence'?"

"The 'old sentence' means '臇'."

Zhao Ran was even more strange and asked, "Why does Gao Su call Cheng Jia this way?"

"Young Master has never seen Cheng Jia. Cheng Jia is short, ugly, and has spots on his skin, so Gao Su called him an 'old sentence'."

The original meaning of "臇" is the longevity spots on the face of the old man. Gao Su called Cheng Jia with this word. Of course, he did not use the original meaning of the word, but to ridicule Cheng Jia's skin spots. Gao Su is a person who is "good at flattering Xunzhen". In order to dedicate his maidservant to Xunzhen, he even dared to frame her husband to kill him, but his flattery is seen by others. Flattering is shameless, but for him, it is an expression of his true feelings. He doesn't think he is flattering. He is also a chivalrous person and a little chivalrous, so although in the eyes of others he is a flattering "shameless person" ", but he looked down on other people who flattered Xun Zhen, such as Cheng Jia.

Zhao Ran couldn't help making a stunt and said, "This guy named Gao Su is an interesting person."

It took Li Hu's best efforts to inquire about the pros and cons of the people around Xun Zhen, and even the conflicts between them. Finally, when he got the chance, he tried to push Zhao Ran to accept his idea, but Zhao Ran changed the subject. , It's like a fly in the throat, a little bit stuck.

However, he didn't dare to disturb Zhao Ran's interest, so he held back and laughed twice.

Zhao Ran had a sudden thought and asked, "What is Gao Su's temperament? Can he be drawn over?"

"This... Although this person is domineering and extravagant, he is very loyal to Yuzhou's children. In his early years, the Yellow Turbans were in chaos in Yingchuan, and he didn't even care about his family. To Yingyin, it is only to protect the safety of Yuzhou, I am afraid that it will be difficult for the young master to use."

Hearing this, Zhao Ran felt envy and said, "How can Yuzhou's son be able to get these loyal and brave men?" He said, "Go on."

Li Hu answered yes, and couldn't wait to continue: "Cheng Jia is good at money and flattery, but he is not a loyal person. He has been humiliated by Xin Ai and Gao Su, and he harbors resentment. Therefore, compared with Chen Wu, he secretly thinks that he is not a loyal person. It's easier to win over. As Shaojun said, he has won the trust of Yuzhou's children, and he often serves Yuzhou's children, and he must be clear about his personal virtues. Therefore, Hu said: He is the most suitable one."

Zhao Ran thought for a while, and felt that what Li Hu said seemed right.

After listening to Li Hu's analysis, he also felt that Cheng Jia was the easiest and most suitable candidate to buy.

He is a decisive person. He made a decisive decision and said, "Okay! Just do as you said, start with the people around Yuzhouer, find his lack of personal morality, Cheng Jia will let you do it."

In order to avenge Xun Zhen's humiliation, Li Hu put a lot of effort into the world and touched the people around Xun Zhen, especially Cheng Jia. Because he felt that Cheng Jia might be a breakthrough, he put the greatest effort into Cheng Jia, and he consciously figured out Cheng Jia's preferences and temperament, so he didn't dare to say ten percent, at least he was 80 to 90 percent sure that he could be accepted as a Therefore, when I heard that Zhao Ran agreed with his suggestion to find Xun Zhen's secret, and ordered him to bribe Cheng Jia, he was full of ecstasy, did not refuse, and promised loudly.

After answering the promise, he said, "Cheng Jia alone doesn't seem to be enough. There are a few more people, and the young master can also buy them."

"Who?"

"Du Mai, Fan Tan, Fan Shang, He Yi, Li Xiang, Cai Qian."

"I know He Yi, Li Xiang, and Cai Qian. They are Yellow Turban thieves. Some time ago, Yuzhou Er was entrusted with the responsibility of suppressing thieves, or appointed as county magistrate, hum! Therefore, I can't get these counties. , really hateful! ... Du Mai, Fan Tan, Fan Shang who are they?"

"These three people are the former officials of Yuzhou Er when he was the pavilion chief in Yingyin."

"Since he was a former official of Yuzhou Er from Yingyin, I'm afraid it won't be easy to win over, right?"

"Otherwise, these three people are different from Jiang Xian, Gao Su, etc. Jiang Xian and Gao Su have a chivalrous spirit, these three people are the ears of the villagers."

Zhao Ran nodded and said, "In that case, I will send a guest tomorrow to find an opportunity to make friends with the three of them."

Li Hu was loyal to Zhao Ran and was afraid that Zhao Ran would spend more money, so he reminded: "If you want to use these three people, you don't need much money, 100,000 is enough."

"Although He Yi, Li Xiang, and Cai Qian were once the Yellow Turban thieves, but now they are all re-used by Yuzhou children, whether they live in large counties, or have elite soldiers, how confident are you that you can use them for me?"

Li Hu, who came from a noble family, looked down on thieves such as He Yi, Li Xiang, and Cai Qian, and said: "One day a thief, a lifetime a thief, they can be subordinate to Yuzhou Er, and they can also subordinate to Shaojun. "

"What you said also makes sense. He Yi is currently serving as a clerk and is leading troops outside, so it is inconvenient to get in touch. I will send two good talkers tomorrow, bring enough money and goods, to Neihuang and Fanyang, and wait for an opportunity to meet Cai first. Qian and Li Xiang became friends."

Li Hu said: "Inside, there is Cheng Jia, who knows about the private affairs of Yuzhou children in recent years, including Du Mai, Fan Tan, and Fanshang, who knows the secrets of Yuzhou children in Yingchuan in his early years, and Cai Qian and Li Xiang outside. Knowing what happened when he attacked the Yellow Turban from Huangfu Song, as long as these people can be drawn over, Yuzhou will not be able to escape this disaster!"

If Du Mai and the others were really bought by Zhao Ran, Xun Zhen would not be able to escape this disaster.

Xun Zhen hid Xu Zhong~www.wuxiaspot.com~ in Fanyangting in the early years, and then hid Dian Wei. Both of them were wanted criminals. Xun Zhen hid them and committed the crime of "first hiding". First concealment means “hidden sinners for the sake of conspiring”. According to the different crimes committed by the person hiding, the person who conceals the first will be punished with different degrees of punishment. Both Xu Zhong and Dian Wei were committed murderers, and they committed capital crimes. "The crime of death by first hiding" was a serious crime next only to conspiracy and group robbery. Xun Zhen is now the Marquis of Yingyin. bit will be exempted.

And the laws that Xun Zhen violated in the past were not limited to this one.

Gao Su made his own decision to kill Chi's maid's husband, although it was not under Xunzhen's orders, but Xunzhen knew that he would not retaliate, and committed the crime of knowing what he knew. In addition, he knew that the servant's husband was falsely killed by his subordinates, but he still accepted the servant-girl into the house, which was another crime of seizing a wife, both of which were serious crimes. From the attack on the yellow turban, Xun Zhen secretly seized a lot, which is also a serious crime.

These three crimes are the heaviest crimes he has ever committed in the past. If the three crimes are combined into one, even Yuan Shao, He Yong, and Cao Cao cannot save him.

Du Mai and Fan Tan knew about him hiding Xu Zhong, and Du Mai and the three also knew about Gao Su's false accusation of killing Chi's maid. Cai Qian didn't know about him, but Li Xiang knew a little about it.

Zhao Ran and Li Hu's original intention was to drive Xun Zhen away, but if the two of them learned that Xun Zhen had committed these three crimes, Xun Zhen might not be able to leave even if they wanted to. After receiving the letter from Xun Zhen, the magistrate of Ye County was sweating profusely. Zhao Ran and Li Hu probably had no interest in sending a private letter to Xun Zhen. The matter of slaughtering Zhao can only be stopped here.

Li Hu and Zhao Ran did what they said.

Zhao Ran selected people from among the guests, and planned to buy Du Mai and Li Xiang.

Li Hu then left Zhao's house and ordered a car to Cheng Jia's residence.