Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Four Stones Without Waves
"The meaning of serving the people is to respect ghosts and gods and keep them at a distance. This can be said to be understood."————————[The Analects of Confucius·Yongye]
Jiangxia County, Anlu County.
In November, the weather in the south was gradually getting colder. After Xu Huang arrived in Jiangxia, he first inspected the county soldiers and field soldiers, and then briefly met with the local officials in Jingzhou.
As one of the two most important generals of the emperor, Xu Huang's cautious and self-denying character gained a lot of favor among the scholars.
Chang Qia, the governor of Jingzhou, knew better than Lv Gong how to avoid suspicion. He and Xu Huang had no "lord-subject" relationship. Even if Xu Huang came to Jingzhou as the general of Zhennan and would be stationed here for a long time, Chang Qia
He just politely sent Fu Qun, a bookkeeper, to greet him.
The staff around Xu Huang were a little unhappy. When they were in Yangzhou, from the governor to the prefect, everyone who met Xu Huang was not respectful. Now that they have experienced different treatment in Jingzhou, they all feel that Chang Qia is deliberately neglecting him.
.
"It's not convenient for him to see me, and it's not convenient for me to see him. That's what's right. The way Lu Gong treated me in Yangzhou was a bit excessive." Xu Huang just disagreed with this.
Only then did the people around him give up in frustration.
At the end of the month, Anlu ordered Wei Zhong to suddenly come to look for him: "The wind is cold and the weather is freezing. I wonder if the military lord has time to spare. Would you like to go down to Huang Gong's house to get together?"
"Huang Gong?" Xu Huang was stunned for a moment, and then realized that the other person was talking about former Situ Huang Wan: "Is Huang Gong still healthy?"
Wei Zhong smiled and said: "Huang Gong claims to be free all day long, so naturally he is quiet and fine."
Faced with the invitation, Xu Huang hesitated again and again, and finally chose to visit Huang Wan. Because Huang Wan seemed to want to know something from him, and Xu Huang did the same.
"I have heard about the general for a long time, but I rarely see him. It was fashionable in Chang'an back then. Now that he is not in the temple, it will be even harder to see him in the future." Huang Wan sat on the couch in high spirits and stretched out his hands to bake.
Charcoal Fire smiled kindly at Xu Huang: "I'm old and my body is no better than your soldiers. I can't help it in this weather, so I put on the fire first."
Xu Huang sat not far away from the brazier, his body motionless, and he said meticulously: "Huang Gong has served the country and made countless merits. When I come to Jiangxia, it is natural for me to come and pay him a visit. Now I ask Huang Gong to ask Wei Ling to invite him.
, it’s really my fault.”
Huang Wan smiled and shook his head. The firelight illuminated his face particularly softly, like a kind old man greeting a younger generation. He asked Xu Huang many trivial and insignificant matters, and introduced Xu Huang to the people around him.
A young man other than Wei Zhong said: "This is Xiang Juda. He once studied under Mr. Shui Jing and is quite capable as an official."
Xu Huang nodded to the other party.
Xiang Lang still had no official position, so he could only sit in the last seat. After bowing respectfully to Xu Huang, he only chatted for a few words, which made Xu Huang deeply appreciate his erudition.
I only heard Xiang Lang mentioning the customs and characters of Jingzhou: "The customs in Jingchu are very different from those in the Central Plains. The Chu style witchcraft is prevalent, especially in Jingnan, where there are the most strange things."
"Oh?" Xu Huang looked very interested and asked, "I'd like to hear the details."
"It was in February this year." Xiang Lang smiled lightly and told a story naturally: "I heard that in Chong County, Wuling County, there was a woman in her sixties who died and was buried with a fir tree. Fourteen days later,
, a passerby heard a cry from his grave, so he called his family and sent it out, and found out that he had come back to life. This man still eats and lives like a living person, and nearly a hundred people have seen it with his own eyes.
Everyone in the county thought it was something strange."
Xu Huang was slightly surprised and said: "This is indeed a strange thing. How can someone come back from the dead in the world?"
"There are people in the world who transform into snakes, and there are people who give birth to children with both ends. It is not unprecedented for people to be resurrected after death." Lai Min couldn't help but interjected from the side.
Xu Huang only glanced at the other party briefly and said simply: "I am ignorant."
"When there are blessings and misfortunes in the world, visions must appear first." Xiang Lang was stunned for a moment, and looked at Huang Wan, Lai Min and others. He seemed to have been instructed. He coughed lightly and continued: "I heard that during the Chuping period,
At that time, someone from the Huan family in Changsha died and his coffin had been in the coffin for more than a month. His mother heard the sound in the coffin and discovered that he was resurrected... Someone divined for this purpose. Does the general know what the result will be?"
"There are indeed many strange things in the land of Jingzhou." Xu Huang clearly did not intend to answer this question, but said: "I don't know if I can hear it in person several times during my stay in Jingzhou.
."
Huang Wan, who was in the presence of the old god, seemed to suddenly become interested and asked: "What would the general do if he heard about such strange things?"
"Then we need to investigate carefully first to see if someone is deliberately causing trouble. If someone uses strange things to cause trouble, he should be brought to justice!" Xu Huang suddenly looked stern, as if he had taken off his gentle disguise and revealed
It shows his side as a leading general.
Huang Wan said no more.
This private banquet seemed to end on bad terms, but both parties showed enough respect and politeness, until they returned home and it was a different story: "That's the way it is, I don't know what Mr. Huang called me for."
What does it mean, but it sounds like he is a little restless and unwilling to live idle."
"What are the two strange things about the 'resurrection of people from the dead' that Huang Gong mentioned?" Chen Jiao frowned and said to himself: "If we knew what the alchemist had at that time, maybe everything would be clear.
."
Xu Huang's staff, such as Chen Jiao, Xu Xuan and others, were all from Xuzhou and Yangzhou. They had rarely known the trivial news of Jingzhou before, so they were at a loss at this time.
Finally, a young official named Bu Zhi who was recommended to him by Lu Gong not long ago came up with an idea for Xu Huang: "Why don't you find a local scholar who is familiar with the stories of Jingzhou to ask?
It’s best if you’re from Jingnan and have experienced this first-hand.”
Xu Huang also thought this was a solution. He said: "Originally Huanjie in Changsha was the most suitable. During the Chuping period, it seemed that someone from his clan came back from the dead... However, he was recruited into the Shangshutai as a minister a long time ago, and now he is also
It's hard to find a candidate at the moment... By the way." He immediately summoned his captain, Lu Chang from Nanyang, and ordered him to inquire around.
Soon Lu Chang found two people, one named Pan Jun and the other Liao Li, both from Wuling.
Xu Huang knew that this was Lu Changzai's recommendation to him in disguise. It happened that he really needed a few assistants who were familiar with the local area after coming to Jingzhou, so he didn't say anything and generously gave the other person this favor. When he asked about it pretending to be curious,
After the incident of resurrection from the dead, the two of them soon got the answer.
Liao Li, who was still in white, was young and somewhat arrogant. He put on airs and refused to speak first.
But Pan Jun didn't care about this. He said in a very logical manner: "The story of the Huan family was widely spread at the beginning. Because they were a famous family in Changsha, we also went to visit them. I remember that there were magicians who made predictions about this, and we got it.
The theory that "the highest yin is yang, and the lowest is the highest" has not been fulfilled in the years since, so it is no longer well known to people."
"The most yin is yang, and the inferior is superior..." Xu Huang said softly.
"The servants are the common people." Liao Li seemed to have found an opportunity to express himself, and said in an astonishing way: "Based on the stories of previous generations, if there are such omens, there will either be a change of dynasty, or the common people will rule the country. "
"Presumptuous." Chen Jiao shouted: "How dare you be so arrogant!"
"You two, please go down first." Xu Huang also frowned in displeasure, but stretched out his hand to stop Wei Kang, Xu Xuan and others who wanted to say more, and ordered Pan Jun and others to be invited down.
"This Liao Gongyuan is so rude." Seeing the two people leaving, Chen Jiao was still a little dissatisfied. The other person was soft-spoken and could talk casually, but who was Xu Huang? If he listened and talked randomly, big trouble would happen!
"Commoner..." Xu Huang had no time to care about Liao Li. He just thought about it carefully and said, "Of all the princes in the court, he is the only one who can be considered a commoner..."
At Huang Wan's home, Lai Min and he walked in tandem in the courtyard. After being dismissed from office, Huang Wan's body became thinner day by day, but the energy between his brows was still there, and he seemed to have some kind of belief to hold on. With his sixty-year-old body.
"Xu Huang is only a veteran, he is just a veteran. Why does Ming Gong need to see him in person? If you want to ask something, can't I just do it for you?" Lai Min was a little dissatisfied when he thought of how Xu Huang was too polite but not respectful enough. This is also a psychological gap caused by the disparity in status.
Huang Wan narrowed his eyes, walked slowly under the verandah, and said softly: "Do you know why Xu Gongming was transferred to Jingzhou?"
"Isn't it like what is said outside..." Lai Min wondered. These days, he had often heard that the emperor suspected that Xu Huang had a large number of troops in the southeast and was interfering in the local area beyond his authority. Therefore, the emperor took away part of Xu Huang's military power and handed it over to him. Zhang Xiu also transferred him to Jingzhou.
"Of course not." Huang Wan said with certainty: "The Emperor is the best at knowing and employing people, and he is also the best at tolerating people. Xu Huang was promoted from the ranks of the army by the Emperor. When it comes to his status in his heart, even Zhang Liao is probably It is not as good as him, who can make the emperor and his ministers alienate with just a few words without even thinking about it."
Lai Min was stunned for a moment, and then said: "Since this is not the emperor's original intention, then why did Xu Huang be transferred here? Jiangdong Shanyue has been roughly pacified, Jiaozhi does not need to increase its troops, and Jingzhou has no place to use troops. "
"Why did Xu Huang station his troops in Jiangdong in the first place?" Huang Wan suddenly asked.
Lai Min said without thinking: "Of course there is chaos in the mountains and thieves are infested, so it is urgent to eliminate them with heavy troops."
"Oh." Huang Wan responded lightly and immediately threw the question back: "Then why did Xu Huang come to Jingzhou this time?"
Lai Min was horrified, and cold sweat suddenly broke out on his back.
"You don't have to be afraid." Seeing Lai Min's face turned pale, as if he was frightened, Huang Wan smiled and comforted him: "It's not necessarily who he came for. There are Wuxi barbarians over there in Jingnan, and further to the southwest , and the Nanzhong barbarians...the barbarians were rebellious and difficult to subdue. With the emperor's ambition, he implemented a very effective strategy of sinicization among the Qiang people and the Xiongnu. It will be spread all over the world in the future. Xu Huang made great achievements in conquering Shanyue. The reason why When I come to Jingzhou, I may privately bring an edict to subdue the barbarians."
Lai Min said: "If that's the case, then why do Xu Huang and Ju Jun each make meritorious deeds, but their rewards are more favorable to one than the other?"
Huang Wan's relaxed expression was a little serious at this time, as if he was a little unsure, but more like he couldn't believe it: "Maybe he is not only trying Xu Huang's heart, but also testing us. Maybe I shouldn't be so reckless. Go to see him... Now Xu Huang has a sincere heart for the emperor, enough to take on any important task entrusted to him... Then..."
"Ming Gong?" Lai Min couldn't help asking when he saw Huang Wan was deep in thought.
Huang Wan slowly came back to his senses: "Oh, go look for Wei Zhong for me. I have to ask him about some things."
"Here you go." Lai Min suddenly had an idea in his mind and said, "Is it about Wubao Manor?"
Huang Wan glanced at him and nodded slowly but firmly.
Wei Zhong was Xiaolian who was recommended by Cao Cao in Yanzhou. He had followed the opponent and fought in various places. He was a close confidant. When Cao Cao entered Chang'an as the general of the guard, something unexpected happened, and Wei Zhong was excluded from Cao Cao's inner circle.
In addition, he was arranged to serve as county magistrate in Jiangxia from afar.
Although he was from Cao Cao, after several contacts, Huang Wan knew that the other party was actually interested in Yanzhou and Yingchuan. It was precisely because of being too partial and considering personal interests that he touched Cao Cao's side.
If you go against your scales, you will be relegated to the outside world.
Wei Zhong was arrogant and arrogant about his talents. After seeing Cao Cao, he did not want to waste his life here. He soon found Huang Wan, and the two sides exchanged courtesy. The Huang family of Jiangxia took the initiative to support the work of Anlu County and truthfully submitted the application.
The number of castles, manors and slaves.
Although this kind of concern for self-interest, even if Huang Wan took the lead, only inspired a small number of powerful people, Wei Zhong personally experienced this, and his reputation gradually became louder in Jiangxia and even Jingzhou.
Time soon came to the seventh year of Jian'an. After several months of preparations and statistics, the emperor issued several edicts as soon as spring began without waiting for local reactions.
One of the edicts states that the existence of Wubai is untimely. Sili, Jizhou must be the first in the world to abolish Wubao within the territory and ban private military branches. Anyone who dares to disobey will be regarded as deliberately treason and rebellion. Among them, last year's local inspection
Anyone who conceals the number and scale of dock walls will be punished with a felony.
Although this edict is only targeted at Sili and Jizhou, everyone knows that it is just like Hedong back then. Once it is effective, it will be spread throughout the world. By then, the guarantee for everyone to live and work will be gone. In the eyes of some people,
This is simply going to cause chaos in the world!
There was no time to think about the imperial court's determination and courage to ban Wu Bi and how to deal with it. As soon as another edict came out, people started to panic.
That edict was in view of the lax laws of the imperial court in the past. The local wealthy businessmen, powerful and powerful families all pursued luxury, and their food, clothing, housing and transportation were compared to those of princes. Even the regulations on tombs were very arrogant. Therefore, the imperial court reiterated the meaning of respect and inferiority and set a deadline for rectification.
After August, the imperial court will send embroidered envoys to inspect violations of regulations together with the governors of various states.
When the edict was first issued, there were some commentators and some opponents, and most of them were busy informing families to remove illegal tiles, screen walls, and gates. Of course, there were some who were lucky, and there were also many who dared to take risks.
Abandoning the court meeting...
In May of the seventh year of Jian'an, wealthy people in Hejian, Julu and other counties rebelled.
At the same time, far in the south in Jingzhou, the Wuling barbarians began to feel faintly uneasy.