"I agree, but I cannot support it," Fei Zhao said succinctly.
"Why?" Liu Zhang was not angry and continued to eat without changing his expression.
"The benefits to the state government of the four-level civil service examination are obvious, but it affects the interests of the family. No matter which family, including the Fei family, will resist. I, Fei Zhao, have an old bone and half of my body buried in the ground. What benefits can I talk about? If it is beneficial to the big man,
I, Fei Zhaodu, agree, but the children in the clan may not agree, and even if I agree, they will not agree, so I cannot support you."
"What if I can help you suppress those opposing voices?" Liu Zhang said casually.
Fei Zhao was startled and blurted out: "How to suppress it?" Fei Zhao had heard about the incident of more than a dozen heads in Fucheng, and also heard that Liu Zhang killed two generals Li Yi and Pang Le regardless of dissuasion. Now that Liu Zhang said this, Fei Zhao
It was easy for Zhao to think that Liu Zhang wanted to use force to suppress him, so how could he not be surprised?
"I promise not to hurt a single hair of theirs." Liu Zhang said calmly.
Fei Zhao really couldn't think of any method Liu Zhang could use to make those family members obedient, so he could only say: "If Mr. Zhou Mu can really make those disobedient family members obey, Fei Zhao will give his full support to you in the four civil servant examinations."
"Okay, go down and call Deng Heng in."
After a while, Deng Heng walked in from the door. Liu Zhang asked him to sit wherever he wanted. Deng Heng could only find a seat and sit down nervously. Ever since the head of the Zhang family made a plan to oppose the official examination of the four civil servants, the Deng family was one of the pioneers, but
Why did Liu Zhang call him here instead of Fei Zhao, who was always at odds with the Jiangzhou family?
"What a good thing the Deng family has done." After Deng Heng sat down, Liu Zhang also finished his meal, pushed the dishes in front of him, turned to Deng Heng and said, "Your Deng family has done a lot of great things, not only instigating
The children of the family boycotted the official examinations in the four imperial examinations. When Zhao Wei dominated southern Sichuan, your Deng family was a strong supporter. They controlled the Jiangzhou rice trade and used Zhao Wei's power to drive up the price of rice.
There are even more crimes committed by the family members. One of your nephews robbed civilian girls more than once, and beat people to death for loan sharking. Your grandson, who is a prefect and an official, even made a lot of money in the name of tax collection.
He also helped embezzle taxes and falsify accounts, Patriarch Deng, right?"
Deng Heng listened to Liu Zhang's words, and thousands of thoughts flashed through his mind. He didn't know whether Liu Zhang wanted to kill the rebellious party involved with Zhao Wei, or whether he wanted to use himself to warn other people who resisted the four imperial examinations, but no matter what the situation
, his own life is not saved.
However, compared to the fate of the entire ethnic group, Deng Heng rationally chose the latter. His teeth chattered and his lips trembled as he said, "Sir, these ordinary people really don't know this."
"Hahaha." Liu Zhang laughed several times and praised: "The answer of the patriarch Deng is good, and he has completely abdicated the responsibility, but I don't like it very much. I hate ambiguous people, and I hate those old men who follow the Zhang family even more.
The people behind me waving flags and shouting.”
Liu Zhang almost said the last two sentences into Deng Heng's ear. Deng Heng felt that Liu Zhang's aura seemed to have been replaced by murderous intent. There was a "bang" in his head and he could no longer think.
Liu Zhang looked at Deng Heng, who was covered in chaff, and waited until he managed to return to normal before saying: "Chief Deng, to be honest, I really don't want to see you tonight, but I still asked you to come. You must be curious about the reason, right? You might
I wonder if I want to investigate Zhao Wei's gangsters, if I want to attack your Deng family and warn the Zhang family, I can only tell you that you are thinking too much.
Your Deng family has a general, Deng Xian. You probably haven't forgotten this nephew, right? He was a general who swore to follow his officer to the death at the top of Fucheng. Even in the most difficult times, he never abandoned his officer and had the merit of feigning surrender.
, I think for his sake, I don’t want the Deng family to be destroyed like this, Chief Deng, you’d better think carefully.”
"Deng Xian?" Deng Heng had not yet fully integrated the information given by Liu Zhang.
Liu Zhang said coldly: "Chief Deng, I don't have much patience, and Deng Xian's face is not that great. I can only point you to a way out. According to my intelligence, the Zhang family will surround the county tomorrow.
You, the Deng family, must express your opposition and publicly support your official position in the Four Civil Service Examinations, hand over your nephew and grandson, and restrain the clan members from now on, and keep a low profile, otherwise, except for Deng Xian, no one in your Deng family will be able to see the sun the day after tomorrow."
Beads of sweat rolled down Deng Heng's face.
Liu Zhang bent down and whispered to Deng Heng: "Chief, you may think that I am trying to provoke the Jiangzhou clan, but remember, you only have one chance to choose. There is no way out."
Deng Heng's whole body was shaking, his whole back was wet with sweat, and he was struggling fiercely in his heart. Should he obey or disobey? To obey would be to become the enemy of the entire Jiangzhou family. If Liu Zhang only made false threats, then the Deng family might be forced by various ethnic groups.
, fell into a desperate situation, and disobeyed? The entire family was destroyed, and Deng Heng could not afford such a price.
Reason told Deng Heng that no matter how cruel Liu Zhang was, it was impossible to destroy a family, let alone massacre the Jiangzhou clan, but deep down in his heart, Deng Heng always believed that what Liu Zhang said was true.
How should I choose? Deng Heng felt that he had never been in such pain in his life, and he complained in his heart why Liu Zhang called him to make such a choice.
After a while, Deng Heng gritted his teeth and said to Liu Zhang: "Come on, the common people are willing to obey your will, but the children of the family are unruly, so I'm afraid it will be difficult..."
"That's your business." Liu Zhang said coldly: "I only care about the attitude of the Deng family's children tomorrow. I can't control anything else."
"Yes, yes." Deng Heng responded tremblingly and exited the room. When the night wind blew, he realized that his whole body was soaked with sweat, and even the inside of his shoes were covered with sweat.
In the house, Deng Xian came out of the side room, bowed to Liu Zhang, and said nervously: "Lord, what did the patriarch say?"
"If he disobeys my orders, will you resent me?" Liu Zhang said quietly.
Deng Xian took a step back, thinking that Deng Heng had made a foolish choice. Thinking of the scene of his people being plunged into a sea of blood, he couldn't help but tremble all over. After a while, he said to Liu Zhang: "Lord, can you forgive my family?"
?"
"Okay." Liu Zhang replied simply.
Deng Xian breathed a sigh of relief, but still frowned.
At this time Wang Lei walked in from outside. Liu Zhang waved Deng Xian out and asked Wang Lei, "Are those subordinate officers willing to take over the position of chief officer?"
The officials of the Jiangzhou clan were almost wiped out, and their positions had to be replaced. Liu Zhang sent Wang Lei to persuade those subordinate officials to take over their positions as chief officials. Although Wang Lei strongly opposed Liu Zhang's dealing with the clan, but
By this time, Liu Zhang had made up his mind and could no longer persuade him. He could only obey Liu Zhang's will, hoping to have a stable Jiangzhou after annihilating the family.
However, Wang Lei still shook his head helplessly and said to Liu Zhang: "Although most of these subordinate officials come from poor families, they are afraid of the family and even more afraid of causing revenge from the family. They dare not promise to take over the position of the chief official and find some high-sounding excuses.
"
Liu Zhang took a deep breath and said, "This is what I expected."
"Lord, in that case..." Wang Lei was about to speak, but Liu Zhang interrupted him and said: "It's time to stop trying to persuade them. These subordinate officials are unwilling to take over the position of the chief official, and I have nothing to do."