Liu Che got up early the next morning.

Under Zhao Shao's service, he dressed neatly and tied his ribbon, and then stood quietly at the entrance of the Tai Palace, waiting for his father's messenger.

Dad's messenger hasn't arrived yet.

Ju Meng came over with two of his men.

"Family..." Ju Meng bowed deeply. After getting Liu Che's permission, he approached and whispered a few words in Liu Che's ear.

After Liu Che heard this, he snorted coldly.

"What a trick!" Liu Che stood up. He looked at Ju Meng and ordered: "You take Gu's token and invite your servant Yuan Si to come to Gu's palace this afternoon!"

"No!" Ju Meng bowed and nodded.

"Si Gong is an elder, please be polite!" Liu Che ordered.

Liu Che turned around and looked at the rising sun in the east.

He shook his head.

Facts have proved that there are always many fools in this world who think they are very powerful.

What Meng Lai reported was actually very simple.

This morning, when Ju Meng woke up, he discovered that several of the Guanzhong Ranger leaders who were originally very honest under his command had come to resign with him.

When asked why, it was Ji Xin who actually asked these people to come over and help. As for the specific matter, none of the ranger leaders would tell them.

Who is Ji Xin? Why is she so capable?

Liu Che's mind was as clear on this issue as a mirror.

Ji Xin is the younger brother of Ji Bu, the former governor of Hedong, and the largest ranger leader in Guanzhong!

In his previous life, Liu Che once heard someone say that there were three hegemons in Guanzhong: Ji, Tian, ​​and Du.

The Ji family dominates Guanzhong. They take both black and white and can be called the giants of both black and white in Guanzhong.

Tian needs no further introduction. He specializes in investing in various potential political stars, even at the expense of his own money.

The Du family is a large family that has been passed down in the Han Dynasty for more than a hundred years.

Later, during the reign of Emperor Xuan, Hongguyuan was renamed Duling. The origin of Duling was because at that time, most people in Hongguyuan and surrounding areas had the surname Du.

If he wanted to attack the merchants in Guanzhong, how could Liu Che not touch the background of these families and forces?

"Ji Bu..." Liu Che thought in amusement: "Ji Xin...hehehe...you actually jumped out to go against Gu!"

The Ji family is the family that knows best how to manipulate public opinion for their own advantage today.

To put it simply, this family started by relying on publicity.

In the beginning, Ji Bu was a general who worked for Xiang Yu. During the Chu-Han conflict, Xiang Yu committed suicide in the Wujiang River. Ji Bu became a bereaved dog and hid in the home of the Zhu family, the leader of the Guanzhong rangers at that time.

Later, relying on the Zhu family's connections, he managed to get through to several nobles, creating a public atmosphere in which he bought horse bones for a thousand dollars. He also relied on Wu Zixu's story to persuade Liu Bang to pardon Ji Bu's death penalty.

After that, Ji Bu began to embark on an official career.

Through that ordeal, Ji Bu tasted the benefits of manipulating public opinion for the first time, and he was out of control from then on.

During the reign of Emperor Hui, Ji Bu relied on Fan Kuai, who stood on the side of the peace faction and stepped on the war faction, to finally climb to the position of Minister of Two Thousand Stones.

However, during the reign of the late Emperor, this powerful manipulator of public opinion finally failed.

At that time, Ji Bu was the prefect of Hedong County.

One year, the imperial censor was vacant. The late emperor heard that Ji Bu had done a good job as the governor of Hedong County, so he summoned him to Chang'an for inspection.

As usual, Ji Bu played tricks on public opinion and constantly created an atmosphere of public opinion in which he was very outstanding and virtuous.

But one day has passed, two days have passed, three days have passed, and a month has passed.

The late emperor remained indifferent. He had no intention of appointing Ji Bu as a censor, nor did he have any intention of letting Ji Bu return to Hedong.

This made Ji Bu anxious, so he simply forced the palace and said: "I am afraid that the world's knowledgeable and heard people may be able to spy on your majesty!"

Was Liu Che's imperial grandfather the kind of person who could be blackmailed and forced into the palace?

So Ji Bu went home to farm. Of course, there were still many preferential treatment on the surface!

At least Ji Bu's face was saved!

However, after Ji Bu returned home, he was restless at all.

He started to play the trick of creating public opinion and promoting himself again.

He got involved with Cao Qiu, a native of Chu, and Cao Qiu spread the word for him everywhere. In fact, half of the credit for Ji Bu's fame as it is today goes to Cao Qiu.

Well, Ji Bu was probably still a politician, and he played political games.

If we only look at these, the Ji family seems to be nothing special. There are only ninety-nine families in Guanzhong that have produced two thousand stone ministers.

But... Ji Bu's younger brother Ji Xin allowed people to get a glimpse of the true face of this overlord in Guanzhong even two thousand years later through some clues in the history books.

How is it recorded in "Historical Records"?

"Brother Ji Bu's heart is full of energy. He is respectful to everyone he meets. He can be a knight for thousands of miles, and all the soldiers will fight for him."

In just a few sentences, a template of a hero can be formed in people's minds immediately.

But this is not the case!

Rangers are not kind people!

Han Feizi said it well. As the saying goes, Confucianism uses literature to disrupt the law, and chivalrous people use force to violate the prohibition.

Murder, crime, and extortion are the Ranger's main occupations.

As for those who can't figure out who they are after eating two ounces of yellow soup, but are determined to help their friends out of passion, those are the minority after all.

As the only two knight errant giants in the world who are as famous as Ju Meng and dominate Guanzhong and Guandong respectively.

Ji Xin is naturally not a kind person.

He was wanted for multiple murders and was hunted down by the court many times.

To this day, the archives of Tingwei Yamen still contain the bloody complaint documents written by Ji Xin’s victims.

However, there has never been any real justice in this world.

There are powerful people, rich people, and people with connections. Even if murder is illegal, so what?

Every time Ji Xin was hunted down by the court, there were always powerful people who would help him escape and even help him hide and escape.

The government can't catch it.

Then, when the emperor offered amnesty to the whole world, Ji Xin jumped up and down again.

even……

Liu Che remembered that in his previous life, when Zhidu became a lieutenant, most powerful merchants trembled like mice in front of Zhidu, but Ji Xin was the only one who was said at the time that "Lieutenant Zhidu would not dare not be polite".

Haha. A commoner ranger, a dignified lieutenant, known as the goshawk, the minions of the country, all "dare not be disrespectful".

It can be seen how arrogant Ji Xin was at that time.

Where did Ji Xin's confidence come from?

It's very simple. Liu Che knows Ji Xin's backstage very well.

When I was the servant of the dynasty, I was the Prime Minister of Wu, Yuan An!

When Ji Xin committed murder and was on the run, it was Yuan Ang who hid him.

So here comes the question. Ji Xin suddenly jumped out, was it Yuan An’s instigation? Or was it his own initiative?

Don't think that Yuan An is an upright gentleman...

If the things that Yuan Ang did for personal gain and bending the law were written down, they could be compiled into a book!

In fact, Liu Che knew very well that except for the former prime minister Shen Tujia, who had resigned due to a stroke, there were only a handful of civil and military officials in the Manchu Dynasty who did not receive money!

Even behind Chao Cuo, there is financial support!

The political ecology of the Han Dynasty was very similar to that of the later Mi Emperor.

There are a large group of "lobbying groups" active in the government and the public, and these people can be seen whenever policies change.

Later generations often said: Duke Zhou was afraid of the day of rumors. Wang Mang was humble and did not usurp the time...

Therefore, Liu Che doesn't know yet. Ji Xin suddenly jumped out. Is Yuan An's instigation behind it?

But there is one thing that Liu Che is sure of, that is, no matter what, he must call Yuan An to ask for clarification.

To be honest, if he was not forced to do so, Liu Che would really not want to be Yuan Ang's enemy.

It’s true that Liu Che knows Yuan An’s power and methods too well!

…………………………

Not long after, Yan Yi, who went to Weiyang Palace to greet the emperor's father on behalf of Liu Che, came back.

Yan Yi brought back an order from the emperor's father ordering Liu Che to enter the palace immediately.

So, Liu Che got on the carriage and headed towards Weiyang Palace.

As soon as he entered the palace gate, Liu Che smelled an unusual smell.

The eunuchs in the palace who usually smiled charmingly and competed to flatter him when they saw him were no longer as attentive and respectful as before. Some even detoured immediately when they saw Liu Che.

"A lot of people's cheese has been touched!" Liu Che thought to himself.

A food protection price is equivalent to hitting the G-point of Guanzhong merchants.

Originally, many people thought Liu Che was joking.

But I didn’t expect that he would actually come!
To be continued...