Tao Qian thought for a moment, sighed lightly, and then replied: "Since so many people jointly supported Zhang Yan as the Prime Minister of Xia Pi, let them get what they want..."

Sun Gan didn't say anything anymore, but he really wanted to meet this man named Zhang Yan.

Time passed like a flash of time, and in a blink of an eye, half a month passed.

Since Zhang Yan's identity as the prime minister of Pi took over Xia Pi, Xia Pi has become increasingly stable.

On that day, the heavy snow that had been falling for three days in a row finally stopped. Zhang Yan called Chen Qun, Chen Ying, Zhou Kui, Xu Sheng, Lu Dai, Deng Yi, Wang Bo, and all the officials to the hall of the prefect's mansion, set up a banquet, and prepared to say goodbye to everyone, and temporarily return to Pengcheng.

Pengcheng is in chaos, and Chen Deng is the only one. In the past month and a half, he has been uneasy.

In the hall, Zhang Yan was having fun with everyone. After three rounds of drinking, Zhang Yan took the lead and said, "I want to announce to you today..."

Everyone put down their wine, looked at Zhang Yan with anticipation, and pricked up their ears and listened attentively.

"I have been in Xia Pi for a month and a half. Now Xia Pi has become increasingly stable. It is all thanks to you for your best help. Zhang Yan is very grateful here." Zhang Yan stood up and bowed deeply to everyone.

Everyone was shocked when they saw this, stood up one after another, and said in unison: "The lord's gift is so great that we really can't afford it!"

After saying that, he bowed to Zhang Yan together.

Seeing that the whole scene was made by his bow, Zhang Yan suddenly became rigorous and said, "You don't have to be so reserved, just sit down quickly, sit down quickly!"

Everyone sat down one after another, Zhang Yan raised his wine lord and said aloud: "Come on, let us drink this cup. In the future, Xia Pi, you will need to worry more! Do it!"

"Dry!"

Zhang Yan first raised the wine lord and drank it all, while the rest of the talents followed suit.

After putting down the wine, Zhang Yan said again: "Now there is nothing wrong with Xia Pi. I also want to take advantage of this time to return to Pengcheng. Pengcheng has already turned into ruins after a battle with Cao Cao. Now it is time to be in trouble and the time when people are most needed. Now there is only Yuan Long, and I am worried that he will be unable to do so. So, I decided to take a battalion of troops under Xu Sheng to return to Pengcheng early tomorrow morning."

As soon as these words were finished, everyone looked at each other, and everyone's eyes were filled with reluctance.

Zhou Kui hurriedly asked, "If you want to leave, what should I do if you want to leave?"

"I have already thought about it. After I leave, Chen Qun will take over me to exercise the powers of the Prime Minister. Chen Qun is responsible for all government affairs. If you want to assist Chen Qun like me, I will feel relieved." Zhang Yan said with a smile.

Zhou Kui was displeased, glanced at Chen Qun sitting opposite him, and thought to himself, "The reason why Zhang Yan was able to successfully take over Xia Pi is all due to my credit, and it has nothing to do with this kid. He is not as old as me and has less qualifications. Why does Zhang Yan choose him every time instead of me?"

Although he was unhappy, he did not show it, for fear that it would arouse Zhang Yan's disgust. After all, he had seen Zhang Yan's ruthlessness.

After hearing this, Chen Qun hurriedly refused: "My lord, this matter must not be done. The long article has just arrived and I can't do anything. I'm afraid I can't do it. Please find someone else."

Zhang Yan knew Chen Qun's ability very well, but for some reason, Chen Qun had been rejecting his appointment. He was a little displeased and asked immediately: "Since Mr. Chen is unwilling to take up the position of Prime Minister temporarily, please ask Mr. Chen to recommend someone who can hold this position!"

Without thinking, Chen Qun immediately said, "You lord, I think Mr. Zhou Kui, the chief of Xia Pi, is very suitable!"

As soon as this sentence was spoken, not only Zhang Yan was shocked, but even Zhou Kui himself was also extremely surprised.

"Me?" Zhou Kui pointed at him in disbelief and asked in surprise.

Chen Qun nodded and said slowly: "Yes, it's Lord Zhou. Lord Zhou is a native of Xia Pi and has been working as the position of Xia Pi for several years. It can be said that Lord Zhou already knows Xia Pi well. If Lord Zhou temporarily takes over the position of Prime Minister, he will definitely be much better than me, a younger generation. Moreover, the reason why the lord can successfully take over Xia Pi is mostly due to Lord Zhou. Lord Zhou will take over the government affairs of Xia Pi for the lord, so the lord can rest assured."

Zhang Yan glanced at Zhou Kui and saw Zhou Kui holding his head up and his chest looked proud, which made him feel like no other than me.

He turned his face and said to Chen Qun seriously: "Mr. Chen, what I said is serious and I can't even play tricks at all. Are you really unwilling to manage Xia Pi for me for the time being?"

Chen Qun bowed and said, "Lord, it's not that my subordinates are unwilling, but that my subordinates really don't have this ability. My subordinates think that Lord Zhou is the most suitable candidate."

"Since that's the case, after I leave Xia Pi tomorrow, I will let Zhou Kui manage Xia Pi for me for the time being." Zhang Yan said angrily.

He took a sip of wine in a depressed mood, then suddenly stood up, walked straight to Zhou Kui, and said respectfully: "Mr. Zhou, from tomorrow, you will temporarily exercise the power of Xia Pi Prime Minister for me. I hope you will manage Xia Pi well and not let me down."

"Don't worry, my subordinates will do their best to live up to their high expectations." Zhou Kui said happily.

Zhang Yan immediately said to everyone: "From tomorrow, I hope you all will do your best to assist Lord Zhou, jointly revitalize Xia Pi, and let the people live and work in peace and contentment."

"Please rest assured, lord, we will do our best to assist Lord Zhou in governing Xia Pi!" The others answered in unison.

"Very good." Zhang Yan turned his face and looked at Chen Qun. Seeing Chen Qun sitting there carelessly, he said coldly: "I have to hurry up tomorrow, so I won't drink with you anymore. You can drink happily, I'll leave first."

"Give me a gift to the lord!"

Zhang Yan left, with an unhappy look on his face. The rest of the people drank a few drinks one after another, and they all dispersed.

A good banquet ended unhappily.

When Chen Qun got up and left the hall, Zhou Kui hurriedly followed and said arrogantly: "Mr. Chen, don't think that you recommended me in front of your lord today, and I will be grateful to you. Even if you don't recommend me, your lord will still hand over Xia Pi to me for the time being. However, you are very self-aware and can't rob me, so you made a favor and pushed it to me, right? Humph, don't think I can't guess what you think!"

After Zhou Kui said this for no reason, he left without looking back, but Chen Qun smiled slightly and said nothing.

"Brother Changwen, please stay!"

As soon as Chen Qun walked out of the gate of the prefect's mansion, he heard someone calling him.

He stopped and looked back, but saw that the person who called him was Chen Ying. He hurriedly bowed and said, "It turns out it is Brother Zhonghu. I don't know what Brother Zhonghu calls me?"

Chen Ying walked to Chen Qun and whispered: "This is not a place to speak. Can you take a step to speak?"

Chen Qun nodded, walked out of the prefect's mansion side by side with Chen Ying, and arrived in an alley. Chen Qun then asked, "Brother Zhonghu, there is no one here, can you tell me?"

Chen Ying said: "Brother Changwen, the lord valued you so much that he repeatedly asked you to serve as the Prime Minister of Xia Pi, but you refused. This time, he even refused to serve as the Prime Minister of Xia Pi in front of everyone, but recommended Zhou Kui to serve as the Prime Minister of Xia Pi, which made the lord unhappy and left the hall early. What did you think?"

Chen Qun smiled and said, "So Brother Zhonghu came for this? Did the lord ask you to come, or did you want to come to me yourself?"

"It has nothing to do with the lord, I want to ask it clearly."

Chen Qun said: "Since that's the case, I have no worries..."

After a pause, he asked again: "It's really not the lord who sent you here?"

Chen Ying immediately stretched out his hand and pointed at the sky and said, "Brother Changwen is too suspicious. If you don't believe it, I can swear to the heavenly alliance..."

"Okay, okay, I believe you." Chen Qun hurriedly pulled Chen Ying's arm down, "Actually, the reason why I refused the appointment of my lord was more or less because of Zhou Kui."

"Zhou Kui? What does it have to do with him?" Chen Ying asked in confusion.

Chen Qun said slowly: "This man was originally Zurong's confidant. When Zurong was in charge of Xia Pi, many bad ideas were made by Zhou Kui. Later, he saw that Zurong was dead and the situation was over, so he surrendered to his lord. Then, he tried his best to help Zurong eradicate Zurong's power. However, when he eradicated Zurong's power, Zhou Kui used a knife to kill people, cleverly used his lord to help him eliminate many enemies. This shows that this man is extremely cunning."

After a pause, Chen Qun continued, "When the lord announced in public that I would temporarily serve as the prime minister of Xia Pi, I noticed that Zhou Kui looked at me with a murderous intent. In order to avoid unnecessary trouble, I had to refuse the lord's appointment again."

"Since that's the case, why do you recommend Zhou Kui to temporarily serve as the prime minister of Xia Pi?" Chen Ying asked again.

Chen Qun said: "Don't you understand this yet? First, Zhou Kui has been the Chief of Xia Pi for several years and knows Xia Pi well. He has to be very adept at anything he wants to do. Second, Zhou Kui does have this ability. It is not difficult to see from the fact that he borrows a knife to kill people and eliminate dissidents. Third, if Zhou Kui temporarily exercises the power of Xia Pi Prime Minister for his lord, then he will not cause trouble for me. Why not do it?"

"You are escaping!" Chen Ying said sternly.

Chen Qun smiled and said, "Whatever you say!"

"Brother Changwen, I thought you...ah! Anyway, you disappointed me so much!" Chen Ying sighed heavily and left with his sleeves.

Chen Qun hurriedly reminded him later: "Brother Zhonghu, today's affairs are out of my mouth and into your ears. I don't want a third person to know. Please do not disclose them, otherwise I will have great trouble!"

Chen Ying said without looking back: "This matter will definitely rot in my belly. Please rest assured that Brother Changwen!"
Chapter completed!