Three Kingdoms

Sure enough, it came.

Pang Tong looked at Zhang Shi, who was talking eloquently and impassionedly below, but his thoughts were a little wandering.

Two days ago.

When Jia Xu arrived in Chang'an, he did not appear in public. He just quietly arrived at Pang Tong's home, and then sat down to drink and eat meat together. Jia Xu likes to eat beef, and he wants beef shank meat, which is chewy and chewy when braised, while Pang Tong likes fatty meat, which is best grilled for the fat flavor.

Therefore, everyone takes what they need and is happy.

What if two people have good intentions and accidentally bump into each other?

It’s just a piece of meat, who eats it?

There is only one pit, who takes it?

There is going to be some fighting. Even if someone bows his head and endures it, it is impossible to endure it every time. It will break out one day...

"Look, someone will eventually jump out and attack you... The big men are proud of their martial arts, and the people of Longyou in Guanzhong are fierce. If you just keep your head down and tolerate it, you will eventually be looked down upon... So when the time comes, you will definitely Someone will come to stir up the situation..." Jia Xu licked the fingers of the beef and made a slurping sound.

Pang Tong laughed, then waved his fat palm, "Then I will slap all those guys into the mud!" 』If you can't deal with even this small scene, how can you deal with more troubles in the future?

Jia Xu shook his head, squinted his eyes and said, "You are wrong..." Then he sighed again, as if he hated iron for not becoming steel, and as if he felt that Pang Tong was drifting now and could not find the north.

"Um? Pang Tong pinched his double-layered, um, triple-layered chin and pondered.

"Shi Yuan, what do you think the current generation lacks most?" Jia Xu pinched another piece of beef, threw it into his mouth, and shook his head.

"A strong general?" A soldier who has experienced hundreds of battles and is invincible? Pang Tong blurted out.

Jia Xu shook his head and said, "That's what you think." 』

"Then a counselor?" A wise man with ever-changing resources and insight into opportunities? Pang Tong continued.

Jia Xu still shook his head, "That's what others think." 』

"So..." Pang Tong frowned, and after thinking for a moment, he said, "According to what you said...I'm afraid that the money and food for trade are all wrong...So, he is an enemy?" 』

Jia Xu laughed loudly, "That's right!" That's it! The big man needs an opponent! If you have no rivals outside, you will be lazy; if you have no rivals internally, you will be lazy. More importantly, don’t think that you are invincible..."

Pang Tong snorted, "Why do I feel like you are mocking me?" 』

Jia Xu continued to laugh, "Do you still need to feel it?" I’m just talking about you! Your cooking was okay before, but now it's too rough and obviously not delicate... Just like the meat you like to eat, if you just cut it off and eat it, would it be delicious? Cut into thin slices, roast them slowly, wait until the two sides are slightly brown and the fat is released, then dip them in the sauce, it is the most delicious... If it is too raw, it will not be fragrant enough, if it is too cooked, it will inevitably burn..."

"Is someone too hasty? Pang Tong frowned and said, "The heat is not enough?" 』

Jia Xu nodded, then slowly picked up the drink, "You see, my lord, you are not in a hurry... Why are you in a hurry?" These people... just like to pretend to be good people... no, they like to pretend to be saints..."

"Human beings are always indistinguishable from good to bad. Jia Xu pointed at himself, and then at Pang Tong, "Just like you and me, we know it is good to do this, but if we do it, we will be seen as bad people in the eyes of others, holding power and oppressing good people... Haha, And these people will stand tall, like saints in the world, compassionate and compassionate, saying to this person to be tolerant and to that person to be considerate..."

"If the fire is not ready, these people will be left with excuses..." Jia Xu pinched a small roll of fine silk from his sleeve, and regardless of whether the oil on his hand had infected the silk cloth, he threw it to Pang Tong's shoulder. On the desk, "Take a look first..."

"Zhang Shi, Yu Qing, Wu Yun, Zong Jing, Mu Chu..." Pang Tong looked at the lists one by one on the fine silk.

"There is a small courtyard with strange stones in the west of the city..." Jia Xu tapped the fine silk in Pang Tong's hand, "These people often go there...didn't you notice?" 』

Pang Tong frowned and said, "I heard that it was just a literary society... So it's just under the guise of a cultural society... these people... could it be..."

Jia Xu said slowly: "If a person says that he is a good person or a disciple of a saint, he must be honest when he opens his mouth, and he must be upright when he closes his mouth. He always says that he must be loyal to the country, righteous to his friends, filial to his parents, and loving to his brothers." , When you see injustice on the road, you speak out with passion, when you see injustice, you speak out angrily... How about such a person? 』

Pang Tong narrowed his eyes slightly, "It depends on what he does...if he just talks but doesn't do anything..."

“What if we just say one thing and do another? Jia Xu asked.

Pang Tong replied decisively, "You deserve to be killed!" 』

"Yes, it should be killed!" Jia Xu also nodded, but his smile was very strange, "But how can we kill..."

Jia Xu's smile gradually faded, but Zhang Shi, who was lowering his head, was still impassioned.

Pang Tong sat at the top and watched coldly.

Isn't Zhang Shi smart?

No, it's because he's too smart and uses it in small ways. Especially after being blinded by desire, you can no longer see far.

It's really just like what Jia Xu said, these people will not give up their interests easily. Human nature is like this, even if death is imminent, few people will let go.

If it succeeds, the people headed by Zhang Shi will naturally become famous. It can be said that they will immediately replace Wei Duan, who is only obedient and dare not say much, and become the spokesperson of the new generation of Guanzhong gentry. If it fails, Zhang Shi will not lose anything and will speak up. What's wrong?

What can I say?

Not to mention that opening one's mouth means benevolence and keeping one's mouth closed means morality. What's the matter? Are benevolence, morality and morality wrong?

For a time, the public sentiment was high, and it seemed that more people meant greater power, more people meant more rights...

As for whether Pang Tong was right to do this, and whether the wealthy Lianshao family had caused harm to the people, Zhang Shi and others did not care. They were more concerned about obtaining their own benefits from it.

This kind of benefit may not necessarily be the kind of gold and silver jewelry on the surface, it may also be invisible and intangible fame, or even just a sense of satisfaction in the heart...

Why did Zhang Shi dare to stand up?

Because I am confident.

Because Zhang Shi was talking about benevolence, righteousness and morality. Why, is it wrong to talk about benevolence, righteousness and morality? Can't you even say it?

And does this happy person following Zhang Shi really agree with Zhang Shi wholeheartedly?

It's not that, it's just a fluke.

Because someone took the lead, someone stood up, and then so many people were saying it, it must be true. Anyway, there are so many people, and I am not the only one missing. If it is right, then it is natural that we are doing the right thing. If it is wrong, , anyway, I am just an insignificant person, so I will not be punished. It can be said that I came out with others. Anyway, I can always find some reasons to exonerate myself.

What's more, occupying the moral high ground, criticizing this, commenting on that, has always provided exciting dopamine, which can be enjoyed for a lifetime with just one word.

At this point, the overall chain has been formed. People with ulterior motives take the lead in causing trouble, and then say some specious words that are true or false, occupying a high moral position, and then use some habitual cognition to confuse, or do not delve into right and wrong at all, and then use their power to suppress others.

Because Pang Tong was reasonable, they dared to talk wrongly.

If Pang Tong was unreasonable, these people would not dare to be reasonable.

Everyone looked at Pang Tong eagerly.

Interests are human nature and rules.

Since there are rules, you need to follow the rules when you enter the venue. Anyone who wants to disobey the rules must either have the power to break the rules, or be swallowed up by the rules.

People often say that in the face of absolute power, everything is just a cloud, but what is absolute power? Facing ants, one finger may be "absolute power", but in front of an elephant, even if you try your best, you may not be able to shake the elephant at all...

But there are still people who don't understand this. Maybe they do, but they just think that their power is already great and they can challenge the rules.

That's why there is the Qishi Xiaoyuan, why there are the heroic words of Zhang Shi and others, and why there are so many people standing together now who want to use this to force Pang Tong.

"Zhang Shi, Zhang Zhongliang." Pang Tong took out a scroll from his sleeve, opened it, read it, rolled it up and put it back, then took out another volume, "Well, here it is... Zhang Zhongliang, a native of Hedong, whose family is King Yu county. From the 4th to 5th year of Zhongping Dynasty, he studied in Luoyang, made many friends, and was quite famous as a chef... He lived in Jie County, Hedong County, on the side of Beimen Street. He had a wife, two sons and a daughter at home, and his parents were still alive..."

"At that time, he was recommended by the governor of Hedong and appointed as a Langguan..." Pang Tong continued to read without expression, "After Luoyang was in chaos, he returned home. In the second year of Taixing, he went to Chang'an and became an official. He served successively as secretary of Zheng County and Xinfeng County. Hu Cao, Jing Zhaoyin is engaged in..."

"Is there any discrepancy?" Pang Tong asked as he raised his eyelids and looked at Zhang.

Zhang Shi was stunned for a moment, his eyes moved, and before he could speak, he heard Pang Tong continue to read: "...In the third year of Taixing, he bought the Qishishiaoyuan, and later claimed it as his own, and invited him widely. People, they cover up by talking about the past and the present, but in fact they become friends..."

"absurd! Zhang Shi said angrily, "We gather together just to enjoy ourselves. How can we talk about cliques?" ! 』

"oh? Pang Tong glanced at it and said, "So... on the twelfth day of the first month of the fourth year of Taixing, someone gathered in the Qishi Small Courtyard in the name of appreciating the snow. They said,... Well, he was full of pride... ...Haha, I don’t know who said it? 』

Zhang Shi's anger disappeared a lot unknowingly, and Chichi said: "This... Who doesn't make bold words when they are young, and who doesn't want to be a high-ranking man?" Is this also wrong? What's wrong? 』

Pang Tong laughed and said, "I haven't said this is wrong yet, so why should Zhang Zheng be so excited?" 』

"Uh..." Zhang Shi was stirred up and down by Pang Tong's high and low tactics.

Pang Tong waved his hand, and then said with a smile: "Zhang Zhizhi, I have a question, and I would like Zhang Zhizhen's advice... I heard that the courtyards near Chang'an are quite expensive... I wonder how much this small courtyard with strange stones is worth?" 』

Zhang Shi was stunned for a moment, and after a moment he said: "This was purchased by a certain person last year, and it has nothing to do with the current matter!" 』

"As far as I know..." Pang Tong continued, "The price of the Qishi Courtyard is 5.5 million yuan... Zhang is a little curious. Ru Hedong's home is just a hundred acres of Susukada and a few mulberry forests... these five Where did the one and a half million dollars come from? 』

Unknowingly, the originally neat queue seemed to be shaking a little, and then someone silently and secretly moved back...

Zhang Shi's heart skipped a beat and he said, "This is what I got as a gift from the village elders when I took office!" This is a time-honored custom, not to mention Zhang, everyone else does it too! 』

"No! 』

"Brother Zhang, uh, why did Zhang Cheng say this?" 』

"I have never received any gifts from the villagers... Mr. Zhang must not talk nonsense..."

After Zhang Shi finished speaking, someone immediately retorted, and then more people left the queue while retorting, no longer standing behind Zhang Shi.

The originally huge team suddenly fell into disarray and became even more shaky.

"A gift from the village elder..." Pang Tong looked at the silk cloth in his hand again, "The Pei family in Hedong gave 100,000 yuan, the Xue family in Hedong gave 80,000, the Wang family 50,000, the Zhang family also 50,000, and there were also a few hundred and twenty thousand." Households, ranging from 20,000 to 30,000 yuan... These various things add up to only one million yuan... In addition, Zhang's salary is more than 600 shi. Even if he doesn't eat or drink for a year, it may be difficult to collect these 5 yuan. One and a half million...』

Ren Zhangshi had thousands of truths and thousands of scriptures, but Pang Tong just grabbed a little bit, money.

Where did the money come from and where did it go...

It was said that it was given by someone else. Who gave it to me? Why send?

If you say you earned it yourself, how did you earn it, and whose money did you earn it from?

It is said to be one's ancestral property. Who left it behind? Who can prove it?

Zhang Shi's money does not have much to do with the big Lianshao family. Even if it does, it is only a small amount. Because Zhang Shi's position is not Zuo Fengyi, the source of Zhang Shi's money is basically Jingzhao Yin Zuojin. of……

This is also the reason why Zhang Shi dared to stand up.

In addition, Zuo Fengyi's wealthy family has been taken away, will Jing Zhaoyin's wealthy family feel that the matter has nothing to do with them? After all, fifteen families in Chang'an Mausoleum were arrested overnight. Although compared with the total population of Chang'an Sanfu, fifteen families are not a large number, but the big families in Jingzhao Yin are also afraid that the next time will be It was their turn, so it became inevitable to urgently need a spokesperson to test, or to block Pang Tong's red line.

But it was obvious that Zhang Shi was unable to complete this task at the moment. Zhang Shi couldn't reveal the financial backer in public, so in the end he could only grit his teeth and say nothing.

At this moment, Zhang Shi suddenly realized that the person following him had unknowingly made a strategic change in small steps, leaving him alone here.

When the drum is broken, thousands of people beat it, and when the wall falls, everyone pushes it down.

Those people who insisted on calling Brother Zhang before, and even wanted to kneel down and call him master, were the quickest to abandon Zhang Shi. They even started to point fingers at Zhang Shi, expressing their innocence and wanting to draw a clear line with Zhang Shi.

Even those people who often went in and out of the Qishi Xiaoyuan and who once followed Zhang Shi and cheered him up when Zhang Shi teased them, saw that something was wrong and immediately and unceremoniously threw Zhang Shi away without any hesitation.

"Everything is what Zhang Shi said, and everything was done by Zhang Shi. I was just temporarily deceived by Zhang Shi..."

"I thought Zhang Shi was just joking, but I didn't expect Zhang Shi actually did it..."

"I am not specifically opposing anyone, nor am I targeting anyone, I am just upholding justice..."

Look, this is the team from Qishi Xiaoyuan.

"Zhang Zhizhi..." Pang Tong was still smiling, as if he was not affected by the previous events at all, "I wonder who else Zhang Zhizhi wants to vindicate?" Who is wronged? Come on, Mr. Zhang might as well explain in detail, who is it and what is the grievance? 』

If he hadn't realized that the curtain on his own butt had been lifted, Zhang Shi would have made some nonsense, and then enthusiastically advocated for the interests of the big family, but now...

"Replying to your Majesty... I'm here, I'm here..." Zhang Shi lowered his head. He couldn't do it without lowering his head. He originally thought that he had great power. Every word he spoke would bring about storms, and when he raised his hand, thousands of people would follow him. But now he realizes that. , those are just my own fantasies, and I have to face reality after all, "I...Meng Lang...maybe there is no grievance...I, my words are inappropriate, I hope you can..."

"Whether it's Haihan or not is another matter..." Pang Tong laughed, "It's getting late now, so I'll take the trouble to supervise the execution and send these traitors on their way!" To avoid being discredited and unable to find the direction, I don’t know where Wangchuan is! 』

It was Ma Yan who was originally supervising the beheading. After hearing Pang Tong's order, he stepped aside and said, "Zhang Zhizhi, please!" 』

Zhang Shi wanted to refuse, but in the end he was still not determined to defeat the enemy. He had to move to the position where Ma Yan was standing. His face twitched several times before he said: "Everyone, listen to the order... verify your identity... follow the law and ask for execution..."

Although the temporarily changed supervisor Zhang Shi's orders were weak, the swords of the hussars soldiers who had been waiting impatiently were extremely sharp.

On the spot, there were soldiers who pulled the first batch of wealthy people with lotus spoons to the execution platform. After verifying their identities, they stepped on them and flashed their swords!

In the bloody light, heads rolled down!

Ordinary people who had been waiting for a long time let out bursts of exclamations...

After the heads are chopped off, they will be placed in a pile of heads and will be disposed of after three days. The headless corpses will be buried in a large pit paved with lime. Perhaps thousands of years later, they will be unearthed by future generations and thought to be some kind of burial pit...

The blood spread, and as more and more heads fell to the ground, the smell of blood became thicker and thicker. The ordinary people who were originally celebrating with excitement gradually stopped cheering, and then watched silently...

Then when the blood dyed the execution platform red, and the muscles relaxed after death, causing the urine and feces to flow out, and the smell of blood and feces and urine were mixed together, the onlookers couldn't bear it anymore. Some people vomited and staggered away. , and then more people left silently, completely losing the excitement of watching before.

Pang Tong looked at it with a warm smile on his face.

This is human nature.

Jia Xu is right...

Ordinary people are not bloodthirsty maniacs. The reason why these ordinary people were so lively and cheerful at the beginning was not because they liked to see dead people, but just a psychological desire.

Because most of the time they don't have the right to control other people's lives, so when they look at and shout at times like this, it's as if they are involved and in control of everything...

Pang Tong glanced at Zhang Shi, who was shaking a little while standing at the execution site. Haha, did you think this was the end?

No, this is just the beginning.