Chapter 226: Conspiracy

Inside the secret room of the Prince of Badong's mansion, eight people sat on both sides.

On the left were Tao Rui, the Assistant Historian of the Provincial Council (Director of the Policy Research Office), Xue Shao, the Registrar (Director of the Military Prefecture Office), Liu Chaozhi, Commander of the Guangmu Army, and Feng Quanzu, Commander of the Jiang'an Army.

The four on the right were the private advisors of the Prince of Badong: Kong Zhangyu, Li Jingxuan, Chen Qiming, and Guo Wenyuan. Except for Kong Zhangyu, who held an official post, the other three held no official positions.

At this moment, they were arguing back and forth. The Prince of Badong sat at the head, his fingers tapping on the ring-pommel long saber, his expression rarely solemn.

"... Mr. Chen says so because he is unfamiliar with the imperial system.

Although the Wenyang barbarians are small, they are not a county.

The eight poles and nine fields, the ten thousand directions and four descendants, were anciently called the ten thousand states.

In terms of land, they are within the borders, but in terms of customs, they are outside the realm.

What is strange about holding a tally as an envoy?

Moreover, the matter involves the Liu clan of Hedong and is also a prince of the state. The imperial court is first negotiating to save people. Second, it is to warn the barbarians not to imitate. Without a tally, how can one gain trust? And how can one make decisions on the spot—"

"The key is the word 'decision'!"

Chen Qiming interrupted Tao Rui, speaking very fast:

"The decision can be made among the barbarians, or it can be made in Jingzhou. How can Magistrate Tao be sure that the court's intention is toward the barbarians and not toward Jingzhou?"

Tao Rui's voice was steady:

"If our matter is exposed, one envoy from the court is not enough; if the matter is not exposed, then the court has no reason to target Jingzhou. The southern barbarians broke in and kidnapped the gentry, so the central ministers were sent to the barbarians, and they checked along the way. It is just following the rules and is reasonable. There is really no need to suspect the neighbor of stealing the axe."

The Prince of Badong suddenly smiled: "Suspect the neighbor of stealing the axe? Does Assistant Tao mean 'a guilty conscience'?"

Tao Rui immediately stood up to apologize: "It was my subordinate's slip of the tongue."

The Prince of Badong curled his lips: "You didn't slip. Don't we have a guilty conscience?"

Hearing this, everyone had strange expressions.

At this time, Guo Wenyuan said loudly: "I believe that if you are a thief, you should have a guilty conscience!"

Everyone in the room looked at Guo Wenyuan.

The Prince of Badong was quite interested: "Oh? Mr. Guo has any high opinions?"

Guo Wenyuan said:

"A guilty conscience leads to vigilance, vigilance leads to reflection, reflection leads to preparation, and preparation leads to no trouble.

Today, we are doing dangerous things, so we should have a guilty conscience, which can be used for self-warning, self-reflection, and self-preparation.

First have a guilty conscience, then know what to fear; know what to fear, then the plan can be thorough.

If you have no fear at all and underestimate the enemy, it will become a disaster.

Therefore, I believe that a guilty conscience is a good medicine for a thief!"

The Prince of Badong stroked the stubble on his chin with his right middle finger:

"Interesting... Then how do you think we should respond to the imperial envoy coming to Jingzhou?"

Guo Wenyuan spoke eloquently:

"A wise man plans things, must first consider the failure, and then can plan for success.

Although the matter is not clear and the disaster is not apparent, we are thieves, so we should plan for the worst and not count on luck.

When the imperial envoy comes, regardless of whether their main task is to visit the barbarians or to investigate, we should treat it as an investigation!

Regardless of whether their investigation is perfunctory or deep, we should treat it as a deep investigation!

Therefore, I believe that the Prince should quickly cut off the barbarian route! Suspend the trade! Cut off all loose ends and clear the traces! Burn all account books and secret files immediately..."

The two generals were anxious when they heard this. Feng Quanzu immediately said in a rough voice:

"Mr. Guo, this old Feng doesn't understand!

What kind of guilty conscience is good medicine? It's going around in circles, making my head spin!

We only know that we have traded with the barbarians so many times, and there has never been a problem!

Their good iron, good horses, good armor, and good swords are our lifeline! The more we have in our pockets, the bolder we are!

Cutting off the barbarian route is equivalent to cutting off our own arms!

Without arms, what will the brothers use to fight? Use a guilty conscience!

You can't stop farming just because a dog barks! You can't stop eating just because someone talks!

If nothing happens, you starve yourself to death first. Isn't that stupid?"

Everyone in the room couldn't help but laugh. Guo Wenyuan's face turned black.

Feng Quanzu, this vulgar soldier, was playing the fool, deliberately acting rough and speaking recklessly, satirizing him in public. To put it bluntly, wasn't it because his status was low? If he were a member of a humble family, would he dare to be so rude even if he didn't know etiquette?!

The Prince of Badong scolded with a smile: "You rough guy, you can't even distinguish between a guilty conscience and a humble heart, yet you dare to refute others!"

Feng Quanzu was stunned: "Isn't it a humble heart?"

Liu Chaozhi reminded: "It's a guilty conscience."

Feng Quanzu raised his head: "Following the Prince, we have no guilty conscience!!!"

Everyone fell over! The Prince of Badong also laughed heartily, only Guo Wenyuan did not laugh.

Liu Chaozhi's family was not even considered a humble family, but they were local powerful surnames, much more literate than Feng Quanzu. After laughing, he said to the Prince of Badong:

"I also think Mr. Guo's proposal is inappropriate. The barbarians are already difficult to trust, and this barbarian route was built by us with great difficulty. If it is suddenly cut off, wouldn't the barbarians have doubts? It will be difficult to communicate in the future.

Besides, the trade is imminent, and our goods are almost ready. I think the other side is the same. If the trade is suddenly terminated, our brocade and silk will not worry about sales, but who will buy the weapons and armor the barbarians have hoarded? How can they let it go? Maybe they will harbor resentment and cause trouble.

In addition, the private soldiers of each department have been expanded, and now they are waiting for this batch of equipment. The words have already been released. If they cannot be in place, it will inevitably shake the morale of the army. Now the situation in the court is complex and changing rapidly. The sooner the weapons arrive, the better. To say something taboo, even if the imperial envoy really intends to target Jingzhou..."

Liu Chaozhi paused slightly, his eyes shining: "Then it is even more necessary to buy this batch of armor and weapons!"

Guo Wenyuan's face was black, and he emphasized:

"The trade is not cancelled, but suspended! After the imperial envoy leaves, the trade can continue!

General Feng's metaphor just now was inappropriate! If a dog barks, you naturally can't stop farming, but if a dog barks and bares its teeth at people, shouldn't you first ensure that the dog won't bite people, and then continue farming!

Can you not even want your life for the sake of farming?

Don't forget, everyone, that the imperial envoy came to Jingzhou not only to visit the barbarian tribes but also to investigate!

Although it may be just for show, what if? What if something is found out?

Weapons are important, but they are not as important as the overall situation!

If you lose the big for the small and are eager for quick success, once there is a mistake, it will be too late to regret!

And I didn't understand one sentence General Liu said.

What does 'if the imperial envoy really intends to target Jingzhou... then it is even more necessary to buy this batch of weapons' mean?

What is the General trying to do?

A gentleman hides his weapons and waits for the right time to move!

Now that the armor is not enough, money and food are not sufficient, the hearts of the people are not attached, and the hearts of the soldiers are not collected, is this the time for pleasure?"

Liu Chaozhi looked coldly at Guo Wenyuan and said:

"Do you mean that if the imperial envoy really finds something and surrounds the mansion to ask for guilt, you want the Prince to surrender?"

Feng Quanzu helped from the side:

"Yes! If someone bullies you, you still wait for the right time to move?

The knife of arrest is already on your neck, and you still recite what sour text about hiding weapons?"

Guo Wenyuan said angrily:

"Why do the two generals misinterpret my words! I mean, if the preparation is insufficient, you cannot act rashly!"

Feng Quanzu snorted:

"Preparation, preparation, when will it end?

You have to take action when you should!

When I was a child cutting wheat, I sharpened the sickle, it was almost enough, and then I hurried to the field to cut!

Otherwise, if it rains and the stalks fall, it will be harder to cut!

And the wheat will be soaked! If you have to sharpen it like a mirror before going to the field, it will be too late."

Liu Chaozhi echoed:

"Old Feng's words are rough but the truth is not. Everything should be done in moderation. If you seek perfection, you will delay the big things.

Although our armor has not reached perfection, we can still fight; although our food and grass have not reached fullness, it is enough to support for several months. If it really doesn't work, there is still the grain in the Changping Granary! We can still collect grain!

When this batch of armor arrives, if we really want to fight, it will be enough!

My Guangmu Army has finished training, and I am just waiting for the Prince's order to lead the army eastward!

Not to mention anything else, it won't take a month to take Yingzhou!"

Feng Quanzu rolled up his sleeves and said:

"Old Feng is the same! What's so great about the imperial army? Isn't it just good armor and fast swords? As long as our armor is sufficient, let them come to Jingzhou and collide with our Jiang'an Army! We will kill them!"

Guo Wenyuan knew that Feng and Liu had made huge profits from trading with the barbarians. Every time they traded, they could get a lot of benefits privately, especially Liu Chaozhi, who used the opportunity of trading to sell goods to the barbarians, making a lot of money, and even the army had a lot of smuggling! A captain under his command actually bought a new house in Futongli! If the imperial envoy started investigating from his Guangmu Army, wouldn't it be an investigation? This was also one of the reasons why Guo Wenyuan demanded to cut off the barbarian route and terminate the trade immediately.

But Guo Wenyuan couldn't expose this matter. He understood that if he did this, he would really become a fool!

The Prince of Badong would definitely not punish the two! Especially at this moment, I am afraid there would not even be punishment.

At most, it would be a reprimand, handled lightly, but he would have formed a great enmity with the two generals, and perhaps buried the disaster of his own death. So he could only discuss the matter as it stood, and dared not point out that the two generals insisted on trading out of selfishness.

In fact, Guo Wenyuan didn't need to say it. The Prince of Badong had long known that the two generals were using the barbarian route for profit, and the two generals were also very sensible. Every time they traded, they offered a lot of tribute, and the Prince of Badong turned a blind eye. He had always acted like this. It didn't matter if his subordinates were a little greedy for money, as long as they didn't do it too excessively, he wouldn't take it to heart, as long as they didn't cheat his money.

At this time, Guo Wenyuan saw Feng and Liu singing in harmony to show their loyalty. Although he was angry, he dared not argue anymore. But Tao Rui was the Assistant Historian of the Jingzhou Council. In terms of official rank, he was higher than Feng and Liu. In terms of status, he was the Tao clan of Xunyang. Although it had declined at this time and could not catch up with the "cow's tail" of the proper gentry, no matter how much it declined, it was still the "chicken's head" among the humble families. He was not afraid of offending the two, so he stood up and said in a deep voice:

"In the past, Fan Kuai said to Empress Lu: 'I wish to have one hundred thousand troops to travel across the Xiongnu.' Ji Bu said 'Fan Kuai can be beheaded'! Today, Liu and Feng are singing big words. My subordinate thinks it is similar to Fan Kuai!"

The two generals exploded instantly!

"Does Magistrate Tao mean that this general is deceiving?"

"What, does Magistrate Tao want the Prince to kill us!"

"..."

"Alright, alright. We are all our own people, don't make emotional arguments." The Prince of Badong made a gesture to stop the arguing people, "Now what I am asking is how to deal with the imperial envoy, there is no need to say so far."

Then he asked Kong Zhangyu:

"What is Mr. Kong's opinion?"

Kong Zhangyu had already made up his mind and stood up:

"My subordinate thinks that the great affairs of the country lie in sacrifice and war. We cannot stop eating because of choking, and delay the war. Armor and weapons are the first priority of Jingzhou, and cannot be easily abandoned..."

Feng and Liu were both happy to hear this, while Guo Wenyuan frowned, but heard Kong Zhangyu's tone change:

"However, Brother Guo's words also make sense. To deal with the imperial envoy, we should be foolproof and not rely on luck. So my subordinate suggests completing the trade before the imperial envoy arrives in Jingzhou! After this trade is done, we will stop the flags and drums, temporarily close the barbarian route, and wait for the imperial envoy to return to the capital before resuming.

In addition, after the imperial envoy arrives in Jingzhou, we can deploy more eyes and ears to closely monitor the imperial envoy's whereabouts, so that every move and every word of his is under our control. In this way, even if he really wants to check something, we can know it in the first time and respond quickly."

This compromise suggestion was also acceptable to Feng and Liu, and the Prince of Badong did not want to give up the armor and weapons he was about to get. Just as he was about to make a final decision, he suddenly saw Li Jingxuan, who had been silent, shaking his head and sighing.

The Prince of Badong asked curiously: "Why is Mr. Li sighing?"

"I sigh that although the advisors are wise and the generals are brave, they are all abandoning the root for the tip and have not grasped the essentials. I thought Mr. Kong would come up with a strange strategy, but what he said today is mediocre."

Everyone looked at Li Jingxuan with displeasure.

The Prince of Badong was puzzled: "Then what strange strategy does Mr. Li have?"

"To use my strange strategy, the Prince must make up his mind to kill two people!"

"Which two?"

"One is the imperial envoy, and the other is Wang Yang!"

Before the words fell, the whole room was shocked!

———————

Note: ① At this time, there was no "zan" (we) or "an" (I) character. At that time, the colloquial language often used "shen" (body) to replace "I". But if Old Feng said how the body is, many readers might not feel it. In order for everyone to better grasp the tone, I still used "zan".

② The Tao clan of Xunyang refers to the branch of Tao Kan and Tao Yuanming. After Tao Kan, the family's influence declined day by day. By the time of Tao Yuanming, it had already waned, yet he still enjoyed the lingering shade of his ancestors. Thus, when Tao Yuanming served as the Magistrate of Pengze, he refused to meet the county inspector, saying: "I cannot bow for five pecks of rice, and flatter the petty people of the countryside!" (*Book of Song: Biographies of Recluses*). Mr. Lu Qinli's judgment is quite correct; this "petty person" does not refer to a person of low moral character, but rather to the "petty person" defined by the divide between the noble and the commoner. (*Review of Tao Yuanming: Annotations to the Collected Works of Tao Yuanming, Preface*).

Pengze belonged to Xunyang County at that time, which was the Tao family's county name, and the county post at that time also used local people, so it was equivalent to Tao Yuanming's "fellow villager". Tao Yuanming was a local gentry, but because of the needs of his job, he had to be checked by a fellow villager with low status. That's why Tao Yuanming called the supervisor "a small person in the village", which is a small person from the same village, not a small person recognized in the village discussion as some scholars said.

(Why was the supervisor in the Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties so annoying? It was because this official position was light and powerful. The people who held this position were all humble families and below, but they could represent the county magistrate to inspect the counties, so they were not liked by the scholar-officials.)

The Tao clan could still be proud of their status during Tao Yuanming's time, but by the Xiao Liang Dynasty, they had completely fallen. "Book of Liang, Biography of Ancheng Wang Xiu": "When he arrived in the state, he heard that the former governor had taken the great-grandson of the recluse Tao Qian as a village official."

This official position of village official is the small official who brought his grandson to find A-Wu to settle accounts before, and it is a local official. Even a local official has become one, which shows how much the family status has fallen.

The family status of the Tao family in this chapter is exactly after Tao Yuanming and before the great-grandson of the village official. It is in a rapid decline.

Therefore, those who participated in the conspiracy in this chapter are all those who are frustrated in the logic of social operation at that time.

③ The physical book "Second Volume of Langya Surname: Jingzhou Chaos (Part 1)" will be on the market at 19:00 on January 16. The publisher is still Hunan Literature and Art, and the sales channels are the same as the first volume. All platforms have it, and it is also available in the Tomato Mall. The number of chapters is from 106 to this chapter, which is 226 chapters. The first batch is a special edition with a seal, using my other seal. Here are a few pictures:

Bonus items with the book: double-sided menu of ancient and modern times, author Q&A booklet, exclusive coded bookmark (attached to the special edition with a seal, one signature and one code), tear-off Si-Wu paper wind chime.

The surrounding shops are different. This is the publisher's, a total of eight items. If you are afraid of buying fakes, go to the flagship store of Hunan Literature and Art.

The front is the poem "Day rain by the window for a long time" in Chapter 188. ===== CHAPTER 227 =====