Due to the distance, the defeated defenders of Yangquan Mansion have not returned to Yangquan City yet, so the officials and people in Yangquan City are temporarily unaware of Liu Hou's murder. So Zhang Xiaowu immediately ordered that Bao Yin and Bao Yin be killed.
Jia Si also took fifty people and escorted more than thirty prisoners back to the city early to publicize the news that Liu Hou led troops to destroy Qingfeng Village and died.
Compared with this era, Zhang Xiaowu knows the importance of public opinion better. In ancient times, it was said that three people can become a tiger, but in modern times, it is said that many people can make a difference. In fact, many news are still forced to accept.
The most famous one in history is the history revision by Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. On the one hand, he described the emperor of the Sui Dynasty as mediocre and immoral; on the other hand, he described himself as a Huhua Han as great and glorious. He also erased all the scandals he had done. He also described the collapse of the Sui Dynasty.
was built on ignorance and ignorance, while the Sui Dynasty
The important reason for the collapse was that the imperial examination system pioneered by the Sui Dynasty completely replaced the hereditary system in which famous families monopolized the officialdom, the recommendation system and the nine-rank Zhongzheng system, which offended all the nobles and families in the country, and was subsequently suppressed by the warlord groups.
defection.
The truth is not important. What is important is the explanation given to the court and the people. Zhang Xiaowu knew that because of the existence of Jin Yiwei, the court would definitely know the truth and the causes and consequences, so he was not in a hurry or thought about it.
With regret.
What the court needs is a hero who is loyal to the country, not a mediocre official who agrees with the party and opposes different people.
Of course, Zhang Xiaowu was not arrogant. He just used his own way to warn those in the court who dared to bully him that there was only one consequence for opposing him, death.
There is no need to talk about conquering opponents spiritually, because people's memory of hatred is far greater than the memory of kindness, so there is a saying that a gentleman is never too late to take revenge. Zhang Xiaowu only uses one method when facing his opponents, which is to destroy them physically.
Although this method has endless consequences, it can satisfy the grudge and prevent himself from being angry. Zhang Xiaowu would rather face trouble later than live a miserable life.
But to kill Liu Hou, one must first seize the public opinion position and leave Liu Hou's death to others. Zhang Xiaowu summoned Chen Guanxi and whispered a few words in his ear, and Chen Guanxi immediately led a group of people and left.
Then everyone continued on their way and arrived at Nie County of Yangquan Prefecture before dark. Nie County was already in turmoil and the vegetation was full of soldiers. When they saw the ghost guard army, a white flag was hung on the city gate. The magistrate of Nie County came out of the city to greet him with a mournful face and said respectfully.
: "Chen Xiao, Magistrate of Nie County, supplies General Saibei and his party."
"Oh, you know me?"
Chen Xiaodao: "General Zhang's name has spread throughout the Central Plains for a long time. Although Xiaguan is only a seventh-level county magistrate, he also knows that General Zhang's heroic deeds of killing the dog barbarians in the north of the Great Wall made him famous."
This county magistrate is quite interesting, and he does not exclude him like other officials.
Zhang Xiaowu and others continued their journey after another night's rest, and finally arrived at Yangquan City the next evening. At this time, Yangquan City had long been controlled by the ghost guards. Bao Yin led a dozen people to guard the city gate, and Jia Si also led a dozen people.
Guarding the military armament camp of Yangquan Prefecture. Well, more than thirty people occupied a city. It was simply incredible. But what was even more incredible was that the prefect of Yangquan Prefecture greeted Zhang Xiaowu and his entourage with a respectful smile.
It is easy to tell whether a person's smile is real or fake. Ruan Qingwen said: "This Magistrate Ma sincerely welcomes us. You can see that his smile never stops, and his eyes almost float."
Zhang Xiaowu asked in a low voice: "Do you know the reason?"
Ruan Qingwen said: "Maybe Liu Hou bullied the prefect."
"Guarding other prefects?"
"right."
"How dare you attack the defense?"
"The sky is high and the emperor is far away. The garrison only obeys and cooperates with the local magistrate, but he is ordered by Daizhou garrison." Ruan Qingwen said, "In order to avoid the emergence of warlords and oligarchs, the Holy Han established two systems of civil and military officials."
"But at the frontier..."
"The frontier fortress is different. Because the frontier fortress has been facing the threat of barbarians for a long time, military attachés are responsible for the civil and military affairs. In the Central Plains, in most cases, the military attachés obey and cooperate with the civilian officials, but are not subordinate to the civilian officials."
"I see."
In the evening, Magistrate Ma hosted a banquet in honor of Zhang Xiaowu. Zhang Xiaowu was unwilling to attend the banquet. After all, he was not familiar with Magistrate Ma and was afraid that he might harm him secretly. However, Magistrate Ma personally invited him and enthusiastically took him to the largest local brothel to drink and have fun.
Zhang Xiaowu felt strange. Seeing this, Magistrate Ma smiled and explained the reason for his happiness.
Only then did Zhang Xiaowu learn that there was a serious conflict between Magistrate Ma and Liu Hou, the guard of Yang Quan Mansion. Magistrate Ma was transferred from Xuzhou to Yang Quan Mansion in Daizhou three years ago. He was originally from Yizhou and had no roots here, and Liu Hou
After more than ten years here, the roots
Shen Digu. Originally, the two of them were supposed to live in harmony and the officials would protect each other, but Liu Hou had an unruly and impulsive personality and did not put others in his eyes, especially with the support of Fenyang Marquis.
When Magistrate Ma came to Yangquan Mansion, he was forced by the gatekeepers to collect the city entrance tax. Magistrate Ma was so angry that he couldn't sleep for several nights. Afterwards, Liu Hou just sent the money back without even a word of apology.
It is said that the conflict between the two arose from this.
After Magistrate Ma took charge of the Yamen, he even became aware of Liu Hou, who was greedy for wine, lust, and wealth. He often caused resentment among the people of Yangquan Prefecture. Many people went to the Magistrate's Yamen to complain. Since ancient times, people have to give twenty slaps before complaining to an official.
,Can
It can be said that it is extremely difficult to succeed, after all, officials protect each other, but Liu Hou did not want to pay attention to Magistrate Ma, so he naturally ignored Magistrate Ma's warning. Not only did Liu Hou not restrain himself, but he mocked Magistrate Ma for being timid and cowardly. He was coerced by the people and how could he act like an official?
of.
Magistrate Ma reported the matter to Lord Zhizhou, but Lord Zhizhou was in cahoots with Hou Hang of Fenyang. Instead, he blamed Magistrate Ma for being a newbie and not understanding the rules of the officialdom, and warned him that if he did not work well with Liu Hou, he would be impeached for disrupting Daizhou.
Only then did Magistrate Ma know how deep the officialdom of Daizhou was, so he could only secretly complain that he was unlucky and pretend to be a quail as cautious as an official.
Now that Liu Hou was killed, Magistrate Ma no longer had a political opponent in Yangquan Mansion, so he was naturally overjoyed. During the dinner, Magistrate Ma drank a lot of wine and talked about the grievances he had suffered over the years. Although Zhang Xiaowu was drinking with him a lot
, but he was not drunk, but got to know everyone in the Yang Quan Mansion Yamen.
Magistrate Ma laughed after drinking and said: "General Zhang, Liu Hou can only say that at this unlucky time, he has been so unruly for so many years that he provoked Qingfeng Village, hahaha... He deserves it!"
Zhang Xiaowu smiled and said nothing. Qingfeng Village was in the southwest of Daizhou, and Liu Hou died at the junction of Yangquan Mansion and Daizhou Mansion - this is the north of Daizhou - Magistrate Ma knew the cause of Liu Hou's death, but still believed that Liu Hou died.
Hou died in the attack on Qingfeng Village, which can only show that Magistrate Ma also tried his best to cover up Liu Hou's death. He did not want infighting between the government and the army to occur in his territory.
Ma Zhizhou was not a good drinker and soon got drunk. When he woke up the next day, he was informed by the government officials: "Liu Hou's family was killed by bandits who entered the city last night. Seventeen of them died."
"Order to seize Liu Hou's family property!" Ma Zhizhou blurted out, and then quickly changed his words: "Protect the scene, protect the scene where Liu Hou's family died tragically, and never let others destroy it, lest we find the culprits." The Yamen officer looked strange and turned to leave.