Three Kingdoms

Jiangdong was in chaos, but Jingxiang gradually calmed down.

"After passing here, it's Wuguan!" 』

Liao Hua glanced sideways at Cao Zhen and pointed forward.

Cao Zhen nodded,

It is now November of the fourth year of Taixing. After the long battle of Jingzhou, the east and west sides of the Han Dynasty have entered a relatively peaceful period. In addition, there is some cooperation within a certain limit. Therefore, Niang Xipi’s previous It’s not a big problem to smile now.

As Cao Cao's envoy, Cao Zhen came to Guanzhong, not only to make some final handover matters with Fei Qian, but also to verify some things. After all, those who arrived in Chang'an before were either ordinary people or had foreign surnames, even Guo Jia and Cao Cao. It's not completely reassuring. Only the descendants of the Cao family whose interests are completely tied together are qualified to be certified.

After a short rest, the group set off again. They took the "Wuguan East Road", which is a road opened along the Danshui River Valley and connected to the Xiong'er Mountains in the east. From the Nanyang Basin to here, the road becomes narrower as they go west. , within hundreds of miles there are mountains and deep valleys, which are narrow and difficult to navigate.

It's not that these mountains and deep valleys are completely inaccessible. If you really want to climb over them, it's not that you can't climb over them. It's just that according to the technological level of the Han Dynasty and without positioning instruments, it's easy to enter deep mountains and old forests, but it's difficult to get out.

Not long after, after crossing a mountain pass, Wuguan suddenly appeared in front of everyone.

Cao Zhen looked up and down as a habit, but he saw that the city was built on a relatively flat highland in the canyon, with the tall Shaoxi Mountain to the north and Danshui to the south. The outer wall of the Guan City is made of blue bricks. The wall is two miles long and winds along the mountainside. It almost completely blocks the road into the Guan City!

When it comes to entering the Pass, from Shandong to Shanxi, it is of course the most direct way to go through Hangu Pass, but I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because Cao Zhen started from Jingzhou, so going through Wuguan Pass is not a big problem.

"Strangle the friendship between Qin and Chu, and control the dangers of mountains and rivers." It passes through Nanyang and moves to the east. It enters Lantian and passes through the right danger. The great defense of Wuguan can be distinguished in one fell swoop. This is so true! 』

Cao Zhen didn't do anything to cover up, and said with emotion, which made Liao Hua couldn't help but nod slightly. After all, Liao Hua had stayed in Wuguan for a long time before.

Liao Hua, Cao Zhen and his party were not the only travelers in Wuguan at the moment. On the left and right sides of the road nearly three miles before Wuguan, in a slightly smoother place, there were some business travelers and people waiting in line to cross the border.

Liao Hua sent his seal and customs clearance documents to the pass in advance, and then the generals in the pass checked them. Liao Hua has been replaced by Xu Yu temporarily in addition to Wuguan Ling. It is said that Ma Heng will take over in a while...

Liao Hua was promoted to captain of the military governor. Although he was still a miscellaneous number, he was only one step away from the position of general. If the Hussars go on an expedition, Liao Hua is nominally the governor's guard in front of the big tent. Of course, in fact, it is just a professional title at the moment. It is impossible to really let Liao Hua go to protect him. Otherwise, what else would Huang Xu do?

Although there were seals and passes from Liao Hua and others, inspection and verification still took a certain amount of time. Therefore, Cao Zhen couldn't sit still. He walked to a group of merchants, stretched his neck and looked at the vehicles, "What is this?" 』

The merchant hurriedly opened the bamboo mat covering the vehicle with a smile on his face, then took a piece of it, wrapped it in oil paper and put it in a lump with both hands, "This is a specialty of Nanyang, and the red glutinous rice cake is also..."

Red sugar, also known as brown sugar, is of course not as pure as later generations. It has many impurities and condenses into lumps, which is dark brown.

The merchant nodded and bowed and said: "This is no small boast, this is a top-quality red wine, as sweet as honey, suitable for all ages..."

Cao Zhen looked at the candy, then broke off a small piece and put it in his mouth, "Not bad, very sweet!" 』

Sugar is probably a molecular structure deeply imprinted in human genes. When you eat sugar, your brain secretes a reward that encourages you to eat more of this high-calorie food...

Of course, a military general like Cao Zhen doesn't have to worry about obesity. It's just that it's simply sweet. If you eat too much, you'll feel a little tired. Just wrap it in oil paper and ask, "How straight is this sweet candy?" 』

The merchant said with a smile: "It's a small honor if the general likes him. How can I accept the general's money..."

Cao Zhen took a Zhengxi silver coin from his body and threw it to the merchant, "Who is this? How can you get it for free?" Someone is asking how much does this thing cost? ! 』

"Thank you, General, for the reward!" Thank you General for the reward! ” Although the merchant said he was embarrassed to accept it, he held the Zhengxi Silver Coin tightly in his hand, “To let the general know that this item costs a hundred yuan. If it is sent to a remote place, the price will be doubled, or even three hundred. One dollar..."

Cao Zhen nodded, threw the red glutinous rice cake to the guard behind him, and left. He didn't care about the price difference, and naturally he didn't care that he paid more for a cheaper red glutinous rice bun. In the eyes of others, he is just a fool, but Cao Zhen knows that one of the purposes of his coming to Chang'an is for these...

Not long after, Cao Zhen wandered around, and the guards behind him took a lot of things.

After returning to Liao Hua, Liao Hua glanced at Cao Zhen and smiled slightly.

Cao Zhen also laughed a few times.

Liao Hua knew why Cao Zhen did this, but firstly, there was no need to stop him, and secondly, he laughed at Cao Zhen that even if he did it, it would be useless...

After a while, soldiers came from Wuguan. When they saw Liao Hua, they stepped forward to salute, and then guided Liao Hua, Cao Zhen and others to enter the pass first.

"This is..." Before arriving at the pass, Cao Zhen saw soldiers approaching with lit mugwort. The smoke was choking for a moment, and he felt a little confused. He couldn't help but ask Liao Huadao, "Why is this happening?" 』

Liao Hua dismounted and said, "This is a common practice." Before entering Guanzhong, people, horses and vehicles all need to pass through water and fire... The so-called fire means burning moxa, burning the yoke, and inspecting the cattle and horses..."

Cao Zhen turned around and looked, and found that it was not just for him, but that everyone needed to do this, so he nodded and motioned his guards to follow the instructions of the soldiers in Wuguan, thinking in his mind, after returning, He must also remonstrate to Cao Cao to do the same.

This is a great move...

Vehicles are mixed with people and horses, and it is inevitable that they will be entangled, and there may even be people hiding in the mezzanine among the vehicles. However, when smoked by this mugwort, few people can hold back from coughing, and they are naturally exposed...

In fact, Cao Zhen was wrong, because the most important reason why Fei Qian set up such a rule was not to check entrainment, but to prevent epidemics and pests. Under the fumigation of mugwort, mosquitoes and fleas will no longer be able to attach themselves to vehicles and cattle as they enter Guanzhong, thus reducing the possibility of contracting the plague in Guanzhong to a certain extent.

As for the water test, that is, bathing with lime water and saltpeter water, the intention is the same.

After all, the refugees from Jingxiang have some parasites on their bodies. If they cannot be detected before entering the customs, it will naturally be difficult to control them after they enter the customs and spread. Wuguan, Hangu and other passes have specialized doctors stationed there. Anyone who enters the pass and appears sick at first sight, even if he has a headache or a fever, will be stopped to avoid bringing infectious diseases into the central and capital areas of the pass.

And all this may seem very common in later generations, and even some crude epidemic prevention and clearance testing methods, but here in Feiqian, it has become a symbol of civilization and advancement...

At the same time, under such measures, those who entered Wuguan could not help but feel a sense of restraint. This sense of restraint will continue, making these people subconsciously accept other health regulations and related laws in Guanzhong.

Cao Zhen also felt a little like this, but he was more looking forward to it.

Guanzhong was the heartland of the Qin State at that time, the land of Yongzhou, and Weihanzhigu, which was also eight hundred miles of fertile land. Now it has become the rich land of the Hussar General. The rich land is the prosperous place of the Han Dynasty. …

I wonder what kind of wonders Cao Zhen will see there?

……ｂ（￣▽￣）d……

Just when Cao Zhen was about to enter the pass, a group of people gathered in a manor outside the west gate of Chang'an.

The manor is surrounded by mountains and rivers, and the scenery is beautiful. There is a pond at the foot of the mountain, which receives the spring water from the mountain. It is clear and pleasant. In the pond, there is a strange stone. Although it is in the water, it can be square and rugged. Character.

Therefore, this village is also called Fangshi Xiaoyuan.

In this small courtyard, ordinary people should not even think about approaching it. There are private servants guarding it all the way away to drive out ordinary people. But those who can enter this place are "there are scholars who talk and laugh, and there are no white men who come and go".

The strange stone courtyard is decorated very elegantly, and even the servants who serve it can say a few verses. Of course, it would be wrong to regard this strange stone courtyard as a general literary gathering place...

Just like Zhang Shi once said, "If you go to this courtyard and just discuss the classics, it will be wrong..."

So regardless of the scriptures, what are they talking about?

In the lobby, Zhang Shi was in the middle, raising his hands high, waving his fists, and said angrily: "This is a party struggle!" Pang Lingjun wasted his kindness and acted daringly! Harm your colleagues, frame them for crimes, arrest them wildly, and disrupt the place! It is truly an extremely evil act! 』

Sometimes, it's not that people don't know good and bad, or that they don't understand the powerful relationship, but they still do it.

It's like having to climb over the guardrail instead of taking the pedestrian bridge.

Wasn't it the same way before, and nothing happened? Since there is nothing wrong, why should we walk on the overpass now?

On the whole, this big move by Pang Tong and others is quite good for the common people and the nobles, because the civilians have found that food prices have dropped, and the children of the nobles have found that a lot of pits have been freed up...

Therefore, for the measures taken by Pang Tong and others, people from these two classes naturally supported them with both hands and wished they could raise their limbs to express their stance. But for other people, it is not so comfortable.

The one that suffered the most was naturally the Guanzhong faction.

There is no doubt about this.

And it is precisely because of this that the actions of Pang Tong and others this time seem to be full of party struggle.

Zhang Shi shouted loudly, which also attracted the support of many people, saying that Zhang Shi's words were reasonable, and Pang Tong and others were probably taking this opportunity to eliminate dissidents and frame the virtuous.

Party strife can be said to be a common phenomenon throughout the entire feudal dynasty.

The word "party struggle" is basically derogatory and usually carries a strong smell of blood. At first, the party struggle had some dignity, but the later dynasties became more ruthless and ruthless, ranging from being demoted and exiled to being confiscated and beheaded. The rise and fall of the soul of the party leader was related to the political interest groups.

"No comparison with the Zhou Dynasty, no clique of cliques, no one is ignorant and fair, just like the ancient scholar-bureaucrats." ” Someone loudly followed Zhang Shi and said, “As the saying goes, a gentleman is always indifferent, and a villain is not always in comparison.” Nowadays, villains are in power and friends are party to each other, which will cause great harm! 』

"Exactly!" Very true! 』

"Guanzi" says, "When ministers compete with each other, they conceal the good and promote the evil"! "Chu Ci" also said, "The crowd is shoulder-to-shoulder than Zhou, but the sage is far away and hidden"! Isn't this the case today? ! 』

For a moment, everyone was clamoring and feeling a little indignant.

The word "party" in "clique" is actually written as "party" in ancient Chinese.

Five hundred families form a party. Party, leader. The place where you gather together is to respect your elders. At first, the word "party" did not have too much malice. It just meant that all relatives looked after and rescued each other, hence the term "party leader".

Later, when I colluded with "friends", it took on a derogatory meaning. When someone said the word "clique", it meant "a few people hiding in a dark room"...

During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, imperial power was dispersed. In the vassal kingdoms, even if there are villains competing against each other and cliques seeking selfish interests, the vassals fighting for hegemony still have to respect the Emperor of Zhou and the vassal monarchs in name. The nobles in the vassal kingdoms have to accept their fate by enfeoffment, not by forming cliques. You can get a title, so the ruler can still have inherent authority, and the harm of cronyism is not reflected too much.

In the Han Dynasty, after the great unification of the Qin Dynasty, the Han Dynasty replaced it. Therefore, the influence of the feudal system of the Zhou Dynasty on people was slightly weakened. Power did not come from aristocratic blood, but was assigned by imperial power. In the Han Dynasty, because of its own crooked roots, relatives Interfering in politics has even become a normal state, making "relatives" and "eunuchs" obviously have the characteristics of cliques, and regardless of whether the specific affairs are right or wrong, they will launch map cannons to attack without distinction...

And this habit continues.

The emperor of the Tang Dynasty lamented, "It is easy to get rid of the thieves in Hebei, but it is difficult to get rid of the crooks in the imperial court." 』

The Emperor of the Song Dynasty lamented, Lao Wang and Sima Aiqing, can you two stop just buttoning your eyes to catch birds? Can you talk nicely?

Then the Donglin Party in the Ming Dynasty held up the torch and roared, heterosexuals... uh, wrong, all the eunuchs should die, if they are not my kind, they should all die...

My Daqing Dynasty shook its pigtails, saying that it has been very effective in preventing Han people from forming cliques. Through the Daxing Literary Prison, any suspected or clues of cliques were immediately suppressed with zero tolerance and high level. Beheadings and house raids were very common, and everyone in the house was beheaded. Nine tribes also appear from time to time...

However, there are policies at the top and countermeasures at the same time. During the Qing Dynasty, the superficial cliques went underground. The intricate connections between officials based on their disciples and old officials became more and more intense, and eventually formed a huge underground torrent. The influence of cliques on the surface was greater than that of cliques on the surface. It's even worse. At least the superficial cliques are easy to detect, but the underground collusion is more hidden...

In the hall, Zhang Shi raised his fist and shouted angrily, and everyone in the hall echoed.

"The people being arrested now are all from Guanzhong, and none of them are from Jingxiang. If this is not a party trap, what is it?" 』

"Corrupt people deserve what they deserve, but it is unforgivable for the party to fight against the innocent!" 』

"It is common sense to deal with favors, but now it has become a crime of framing!" 』

There is a lot of talk, and the more you talk, the more you feel that you are justified, and then you will selectively forget some things.

It's like a child who might just be beaten and scolded by his parents, and then sit in a place by himself, crying and muttering that his parents never loved him. The world is all gray and colorless, completely forgetting what he is. Was he beaten because of something wrong...

Another example is when a husband and wife are quarreling, they reveal everything about the other party. The man says that the woman checks her phone every day, and the woman says that the man plays games every day, staring at each other and spraying foam, while the other party I have forgotten all the things I did when I wasn’t holding my phone or playing games...

These officials who were invited by Zhang Shi also forgot whether they had made any contribution in their daily life, whether they had improved the economy and improved people's livelihood. Anyway, they only remembered that their original income had dropped sharply because Pang Tong and others were investigating corruption... …

The most important thing is that they have become accustomed to it and think it is a normal "human relationship".

Is there anything wrong with reciprocity?

What happened to receiving some red envelopes?

They were not promoted, and the extra income was reduced. Naturally, they were dissatisfied. In addition, Zhang Shi gave an excellent reason, party struggle!

This is definitely a partisan struggle!

If it’s not a party struggle, what else could it be? !

To put it simply, Qiusi changed his mind!

It's not their fault!

Before, I would be late for an hour or two and say it was okay with a smile, but now I would be late for five minutes and say, what are you doing? I used to send roses every now and then, but now I send them cauliflower or broccoli all year round...

How can I bear this? !

So what should you do when you can’t bear it?

Make trouble! We must let Qiusi know that not all little sweets can be called Mrs. Cow!

"Everyone, everyone! Zhang Shi said in a deep voice, "In a few days, Pang Shiyuan will be publicly sentenced to show his integrity!" There will definitely be many people watching the ceremony! This is an excellent opportunity! 』

"When we argue with the truth, we will expose Ponzi's hypocrisy, painfully expose the harm caused by party strife, and let everyone in the world understand that our magnanimity can shine a light on the sun and the moon!" 』

Zhang Shi spoke straightforwardly, aren't you afraid of spreading the word?

To a certain extent, Zhang Shi was really not afraid.

Because not everyone who enters the hall today can come in. In addition to the requirements of "three years as an official, thirty private servants, more than three hundred stones, and thirty million yuan", there must be three more Sponsors, at least one of whom is a directly nominated sponsor who is already present.

They all knew the truth and were all connected, so how could it be spread?

Sometimes when there are more people following behind him and listening to his orders, it will make people feel that he has become the person in control of everything and can challenge for a higher position, so Zhang Shi is not afraid, and even feels that after this This is the best opportunity to test the team...