Three Kingdoms

No one expected that Zhang Liao would suddenly kill the chief clerk of the Protectorate on the spot!

But Zhang Liao did just that.

Because Zhang Liao feels that he has this responsibility on his shoulders!

You need to take responsibility!

Just like the structure of the Duhufu, it was a pioneering work of the Han Dynasty.

Before the Han Dynasty, there was no such thing as a Protectorate...

Why is it said that many things in the Han Dynasty were ahead of the world? It is because during the Han Dynasty, the Han people in the Central Plains of China would not say that there was no precedent, teachers did not teach, saints did not do it, etc., and then they openly stopped doing it.

There is no precedent, and the Han people are the precedent.

No one taught it, the Han people just passed it on to future generations.

There are no sages to refer to, and the Han people are just as good as the sages.

After the Western Han Dynasty unified the Western Regions, the Western Regions Protectorate was established. At first, he was just an "envoy captain", managing farming affairs. Later, I discovered that there were many things to manage and the territory was very large, so I didn’t say that I was limited by precedents or laws, or that I was considering not opening this hole, not allowing unruly people to take advantage, not having any loopholes, etc. "To protect the North Road", the "Total Protector" was established.

From Zheng Ji's appointment as the first Protector of the Western Regions to the end of the Western Han Dynasty, 18 people successively served as Protector of the Western Regions, and the names of 10 of them are found in historical records. The inheritance is orderly. In the Duhu Mansion, there were positions such as Duhu, Deputy Duhu, Changshi, and Sima. The above positions were more focused on military affairs. Later, there were also officials who recorded affairs and participated in military affairs, and various Cao Cao participated in military affairs. They were engaged in positions such as writing and writing, which were more focused on staff. civilian.

It's a pity that the later Han people failed to inherit this courage and this spirit.

At least not for these people in front of me.

Not at all.

The Registrar of the Protectorate is similar to the position of the same name among states and counties. Because it involves some confidential documents, it serves as a hub. The position is not high but the importance is not small. Therefore, it is generally held by the confidants of the local governor. Later, during the reform of the official position system of the feudal dynasty, this was also realized, and the powers of the chief registrar were gradually differentiated. After the Tang and Song Dynasties, the powers of the chief registrar gradually weakened and they became ordinary document officials.

Therefore, the person currently serving as the chief registrar in the Protectorate of the Western Regions is a relative of Lu Bu's Madam Yan, and is said to be Madam Yan's nephew.

Lu Bu had two wives, one was Mrs. Yan and the other was Mrs. Wei. Mrs. Wei died in the war. Yes, Mrs. Wei is Wei Xu's sister.

As for that little grass, she is just a concubine.

Therefore, before Zhang Liao took action, no one thought that Zhang Liao would really dare to kill the chief clerk. Even the chief clerk himself probably thought that it would only be a physical pain at most, so he dared to stand in front and speak.

Is it a common practice in official circles that if something is done wrong or something is messed up, it must be someone else’s fault, and the leaders are uninformed and have no understanding of the situation at all. Once things get serious, they will blame someone else. In the name of He Zhiguo, He Zhiguo was dismissed and investigated with great fanfare, and the publicity was widely publicized in order to eliminate public resentment. After a period of time, those big people who were used to take the blame would quietly be reinstated, and even get higher positions.

If there were no benefits behind it, no one would be willing to take the blame, right? Of course, the so-called big ones are not necessarily all temporary workers. They may also be white gloves or green gloves and a series of gloves, just like the various leather holding companies used to isolate debts and obtain benefits in capitalist countries.

Therefore, Master Yan felt that at worst he would be responsible for an oversight. The most he could do was apologize in public and express his attitude, and then he could deal with Zhang Liao by dealing with the culprit, and wait until the limelight passed.

But I didn't expect that Zhang Liao would take action directly and chop off his head at the slightest disagreement!

When alive, he is still a human being; when dead, he is just a pile of meat.

carrion.

Zhang Liao did not hide his disgust at all, shook the blood off his sword, and then said in a deep voice: "You are all scholars, you should know the basic system of etiquette!" What is etiquette? Etiquette prevents chaos! The purpose of establishing the Protectorate in the Western Regions is not to seek fame and fortune, but to appease the vassals and pacify foreign invaders. It is also to prevent chaos in the Western Regions! 』

"When it comes to the laws of life and death, rituals and punishments, you are better than someone else." However, this son of the Yan family stole the title of Hussar, betrayed the entrustment of the governor, and betrayed the people of the Western Region. He was greedy, used cunning words to get away with crimes, and tortured innocent people. However, he did not know the crime and was an official without asking questions. , let everyone be fooled, the people's cries are ignored, and they die in vain! What is his job and what is his responsibility? ! 』

"If we talk about loyalty, how can we say loyalty if he goes against his master and acts selfishly?" 』

"If we talk about filial piety, it goes against human ethics. How can we talk about filial piety?" 』

"If we talk about benevolence, how can we talk about benevolence if it harms the people and hurts others?" 』

"If we talk about righteousness, how can we talk about righteousness if we are so cunning and evasive?" 』

"Everyone can punish these unfaithful, unfilial, unkind and unjust people!" 』

"Come here, take his body and hang it on the top of the city!" 』

"Search his house, seize the criminal's family papers, confiscate his property according to the law, and make his wife a slave!" 』

As soon as Zhang Liao said this, a large number of people were frightened again.

Suddenly some soldiers came forward, dragged the body away, took the head and left.

The blood dragged a long trace on the ground, the smell of blood spread everywhere, and the remaining people had different expressions. Some people's faces turned pale, while others turned red. Some had trembling legs and feet, while others stood still.

The property is confiscated and the wife is made a slave?

Although it is said that Fei Qian implemented the "Law of Corruption" in Guanzhong, the Western Regions, a newly established administrative agency that had relatively lost its supervisory system after Li Ru's death, did not have much understanding of the "Law of Corruption". Not profound.

This is also a normal phenomenon. After all, what happens to others is just a story. Just like in the feudal dynasties of later generations, it is not said in conferences or small meetings that someone in such and such a place was arrested for corruption, and the whole family Aren't you listening to "Copy and Cut" as a story? And the early Ming Dynasty's rip-offs and grass-fed practices, didn't they just disappear after a while?

After the Longyou Incident, the "4321" local administrative system has been gradually developed in various places, but here in Xihai, it is still the same as Xiliang.

Therefore, when Zhang Liao said that "the wife of a corrupt man is equally guilty," some people couldn't help but jump out and cry out for injustice.

"Even if the master of the book is punished by death, Confucius said, "Guide them with government, regulate them with punishment, and the people will be exempted from shame. Guide them with virtue, coordinate them with etiquette, and have shame and integrity." Laws are the tools of governance, not It also controls the source of turbidity. If the administration of officials is to put out a fire and a boiling fire, it is not harsh to be strong and strong, but it is joyful to be able to do the job well! Someone stood up and said loudly, "When the Han Dynasty flourished, the goblets were broken and made into circles, and the withers were cut into pieces to make them simple. The nets were leaked by the fish that swallowed the boats, and the officials were not treacherous in their governance, and the people were safe." The general committed a crime against his wife, which was an extremely serious crime. How can his wife be punished when she is at home and has not done anything wrong? If the general is like this, wouldn't it mean that the crime is innocent and the punishment is innocent? Then where does the law exist and what is the purpose of the law? ! 』

Zhang Liao looked at the man and did not immediately take the knife to kill him. Instead, he smiled and asked, "Who are you?" 』

"I am the counselor of the Duhu Mansion, Luo Zheng!" "The man didn't show any concern at all. He held out his chest and said in a deep voice, "The general wants to kill someone? 』

Zhang Liao laughed and said, "How long will Counselor Luo serve?" But can we let it go today? 』

Luo Zheng was stunned for a moment. Apparently he didn't quite understand why Zhang Liao asked him how long he had served. He thought Zhang Liao was questioning his short tenure, so he didn't understand the situation, so he replied loudly: "I have been serving as counselor for more than a year." 』

Zhang Liao nodded, "Having been in office for more than a year, may I ask the counselor, have you ever spoken out for the people?" 』

"ah? ” Luo Zheng’s eyes widened.

Zhang Liao pointed to the pool of blood in front of the hall, "Counsellor Luo was right and strict in his words. For this reason, the thieves resented his injustice. However, the people in the West Sea suffered so much. Can the counselor complain that he was unfair?" 』

"ah? Luo Zheng's eyes were still wide-eyed. Doesn't this mean that Master Yan's wife is innocent? Why did it suddenly turn to ordinary people? What does the fairness and unfairness of ordinary people have to do with Master Yan’s wife?

Seeing that Luo Zheng still didn't understand, Zhang Liao turned around and asked Zhang An: "Zhi Yin supervises Zhang, oh, no, I heard that Si Zhang supervises, what is his performance?" 』

Zhang An sighed silently, stood a step forward, and slowly raised his head that had been lowered all the time. The expression on his face also changed from the cautious look at the beginning to one that looked like he was looking out of the scabbard. As if he had drawn out the blade, he glanced at Luo Zheng and said directly: "Luo Zheng." A native of Baishi County, Longxi. In the sixth year of Taixing, he moved with the people to Xihai. Good at Confucian classics and proficient in arithmetic, he first served as Secretary Zuo of the Duhufu, and later served as Counselor in the early seventh year of Taixing to this day. Most of these people have a false reputation for good deeds, and they are vain in doing things. Although they have no obvious evil deeds, they do not advocate it for the people. 』

Zhang Liao nodded, "What a pity." 』

What's a pity?

Luo Zheng was thinking for a moment. Before he could understand why Zhang Liao said it was a pity, he heard Zhang Liao continue to say: "It's a pity. It is a pity that many scholars learn from the belly of a dog." Who is Master Yan? Supervisor Zhang! 』

Zhang An obviously no longer held back anymore, and said loudly: "The chief secretary, Yan, is greedy. In the government office, under the guise of the name of the Protector, he uses his power to collect bribes and exploit officials, but he has not given anything." They all judge it as inferior and discard it. The family's wealth is in vain, and there are dozens of fertile fields in the manor west of the city, and thousands of cattle and sheep, all of which have been collected over the years. 』

Zhang Liao nodded and added, "There are also incompetent positions, corruption, delays in military rations, and obstruction of military law!" 』

Zhang An handed over his hand and said, "Remember the humble position." 』

Zhang Liao turned to Luo Zheng and said, "You are aggrieved by the Yan family and think his wife is innocent?" When his wife enjoys herself, doesn’t she use her money from corruption? Since he used his ill-gotten wealth, he should be equally responsible for the crime! If you really have a righteous heart and speak out for injustice in the world, why have you not spoken out on behalf of the people for more than a year? Where were you when the people in the West Sea were working hard? What can you say when your soldiers are being corrupted by others? When punishing evildoers, you cannot bear to say that the evildoer's wife is innocent, but why don't you see you doing good deeds? You turn a blind eye and listen to the misery of the people! This heart can be punished! 』

Luo Zheng's face suddenly turned pale, his body was trembling, and he was speechless.

What Zhang Liao said is indeed true.

Good people and bad people cannot be determined by one sentence, nor does it mean that good people will only do good things throughout their lives, and bad people will do evil things throughout their lives. However, Chinese people often have a misunderstanding, that is, they like to stand on a high moral position, as if they can persuade bitches. If a good butcher puts down his knife, he will have great merits and great retribution. For this reason, he will not hesitate to offer a high price to the bitch butcher, saying that as long as he repentes, he will forget the blame, and then turn around and criticize the good people, as long as the good people do one thing wrong. , they will be trampled under their feet and cursed for thousands of years.

Under the guidance of this kind of thinking, officials and Confucian scholars who stand in high positions often like to talk about fairness and express how innocent the children of criminals are, but turn a blind eye to the suffering of the people. Such remarks can be said to be punishable.

The most fundamental purpose of etiquette and law is to maintain social stability, punish evil and promote good, promote righteousness and eliminate evil. Corrupt people, such as Master Yan, collected bribes and bought estates. With his authority, everyone in the family, including his wife, enjoyed prosperity and wealth, controlled a large amount of resources, and gained more than ordinary people. There are so many conveniences, but now Luo Zheng says that his wife and children are innocent, so they cannot be punished together?

This type of argument is what sour Confucian scholars like most, and it is the so-called confusion of right and wrong.

When Luo Zheng was talking about the innocence of the chief secretary's wife, he did not talk about whether the children of soldiers who died on the battlefield received preferential treatment, nor did he protect the rights and interests of ordinary people who faced heavy labor and endless exploitation. These people like Luo Zheng, on the surface, are all high-sounding, but in fact they are indifferent to many specific incidents of unfair treatment at the bottom. Instead, they are concerned about whether the wives and families of corrupt officials can be accommodated. They are particularly concerned about this kind of thing. They express righteously how innocent the criminal's wife is, but they are indifferent to how to protect the rights of the people who are truly miserable and innocent victims.

Ultimately, these people are just afraid that once they are investigated and punished, their families will be affected if they are really implemented in accordance with the "Corruption Law", so they use the name of fairness to find a future for their families. Just a road.

It cannot be said that it is far-sighted.

"That's right," Zhang Liao suddenly patted his head lightly, "That's reckless..."

Luo Zheng suddenly looked at Zhang Liao as if he had grasped the last straw for drowning.

Zhang Liao turned to look at Zhang An, sighed and said, "I'm so tired from running around for days... I even forgot to ask Counselor Luo to say a few more words and ask if anyone else feels the same way... After all, I can speak out for Master Yan." A righteous person may also have many problems..."

Zhang An coughed, not knowing whether he should say he was right or wrong.

As for Luo Zhengze, he was dumbfounded. His face was yellow and white. He completely lost his previous upright and dignified attitude, and instead looked wretched.

Zhang Liao waved his hand and ignored Luo Zheng. Instead, he continued to say to Zhang An: "In that case, I don't need to bother Supervisor Zhang more... and according to the investigation files of the Department, he will be punished according to the law. If he deserves to be killed, he will be killed." , be punished if you deserve it! 』

Zhang An looked at Zhang Liao with bright eyes, "I dare to ask the general, is it all... or..."

Zhang Liao stretched out his hand and said, "Everyone!" I don’t have that much time to argue with these people! 』

Zhang An took a long breath, then lowered his head to accept the order, and immediately took a step forward, standing in front of the blood-stained steps with his head held high, looking around at the officials of the Protectorate.

For these people, he actually has an account and records every detail.

As the supervisory envoy of Youwen Division hidden in the Western Region, he has been recording silently for a long time, just for this day!

Initially, Zhang An was not sure about Zhang Liao's thoughts and did not know whether he should take out these records. However, after Zhang Liao killed the chief clerk and exposed Zhang An's hidden identity, Zhang An understood that when the time came, .

It’s time to settle accounts!

Zhang An's eyes focused on one of them, "Sima Chen of the Dufu Prefecture deducted soldiers' pay, stole and sold weapons, and they must follow the law..."

Before Zhang An finished speaking, a man suddenly jumped out from among the people in the Duhu Mansion, took out a dagger from his arms, and rushed towards Zhang Liao, who had his back turned to everyone!

This person is the Sima of the Protectorate that Zhang An mentioned!

Since he is a Sima, he is more or less skilled in martial arts. At this moment, Zhang Liao turned around and suddenly jumped out, like a poisonous snake suddenly showing its fangs and biting fiercely. On Zhang Liao's back!

Zhang An was startled, his heart was pulled tightly, and he watched helplessly as this person rushed forward...

Sima of the Protectorate Palace still had a ferocious smile on his face. He felt that Zhang Liao himself did not bring many soldiers. If he could kill Zhang Liao here in one fell swoop, the next thing would be easy!

He even thought about how to cover up the truth. Suffice it to say that Zhang An framed the chief registrar and Zhang Liao bullied the officials of the Protectorate without any reason. The chief registrar Yan could not bear the humiliation and resisted in anger and was brutally killed. So everyone fought back angrily and killed Zhang Liao and Zhang An!

Anyway, all the officials in the Duhu Mansion are more or less involved in corruption, more or less, otherwise they wouldn't be able to stay in the Duhu Mansion, so to a certain extent they are all considered "one of our own"!

Of course "one's own people" must protect "one's own people"!

On this point, Sima of the Protectorate was right. Just like Luo Zheng, who just said that Master Yan's wife was innocent, he actually got some benefits from it. Although there was no explicit request for bribes or acceptance of bribes, it was still considered a vested interest. One of the people with interests, so he stood up to speak for Master Yan. As the saying goes, taking people's money is naturally to eliminate disasters with people.

So as long as Zhang Liao is killed, everything will be fine...

Sima of the Protectorate Palace saw that the dagger he stabbed was about to pierce Zhang Liao's back, and his expression became more and more ferocious. But suddenly, his eyes blurred, and Zhang Liao suddenly disappeared in front of him!

While waiting for Sima Gang of the Protectorate to control the pace of the attack and look for Zhang Liao, he felt that he seemed to be floating, and then he saw a headless body with an outstretched hand, holding a dagger, and rushed forward. , and finally hit the steps of the festival hall...

At this moment, Zhang An stood aside, his mouth wide open, and he just shouted the word "small".

Zhang Liao shook his sword and drew a line of blood, like a lazy tiger retracting its claws. Seeing the head rolling down to the front, he stopped with one foot and faced Zhang Liao as if nothing had happened. Ann said, "Go on." 』