Chapter 270: Beiting County Magistrate Murong Xiu

Liu Heng reacted. He hadn't shown his face, so what was there to worry about.

All the vicious actions were done by Qi Sansheng. He, a County Magistrate, was just guarding Shuo Fang County properly, what crime was there?!

Besides, he couldn't restrict Qi Sansheng from buying grain, right!

He was originally a merchant, and it was normal for him to use some means to do business. Anyway, he was innocent!

In just an instant, Liu Heng had cleared himself completely. "This Qi Sansheng doesn't care about the people's livelihood; merchants chasing profit is indeed true!"

"Extremely!" The advisor hurriedly agreed. "Does the Magistrate want to beat him?"

"It's not convenient for me to intervene in this matter, let him be!" Liu Heng shook his head.

The advisor knew what medicine Liu Heng was selling in his gourd. He still couldn't bear to part with such a large profit.

Liu Heng had also invested silver in this matter. He could have withdrawn now, but he was very greedy, letting Qi Sansheng go to collect grain while he hid behind the scenes.

When Guangwu Jun had no grain, he would sell it secretly, and the price difference would be enough to move his heart.

It could only be said that the news from the front lines came too timely. This move was no different from knocking the mountain to shake the tiger. None of these County Magistrates dared to have disloyal thoughts, but they didn't want to let the Ming Army gain the hearts of the people.

Among these few people, only Beiting County Magistrate Murong Xiu went against the trend. When Guangwu Jun threw out the news of selling grain, he was indifferent, as if he hadn't heard it at all, and now that the news from the front lines had spread, he had made a major decision.

"Brother Shi, I came here today to discuss a matter!" Murong Xiu was dressed in official robes, about fifty-something, with a fair face and no beard, and a pair of long, narrow eyes. Having been in a high position for many years, he always carried three parts of scrutiny when looking at people.

"Brother Murong, if you have something to say, just say it!" General Shi didn't stand on ceremony, took the tea, and took a sip.

Unlike the infighting between other counties, the two of them could be said to be birds of a feather, both liking things like listening to music in brothels, and over time, their relationship became more and more harmonious.

Murong Xiu had always been the leader between the two, because his brain was flexible and he was smarter than General Shi!

Murong Xiu thought for a while and asked: "Brother, I won't talk nonsense with you. I want to talk to you about the Ming Army today."

General Shi was not surprised. It was rare for Murong Xiu to make an appointment with him not in a brothel but in a study, which was enough to show that it was a major matter to discuss, and the major matter in Beijiang recently was the Ming Army.

"Brother is talking about the Ming Army defeating the Xiongnu?"

"Exactly!" Murong Xiu raised his teacup and took a sip. "What does brother think of this Ming Army?"

General Shi pondered for a long time before slowly saying, "This Ming insurgent army rose in troubled times. They were originally bandits, but they were able to reach today's level in a short time, which is truly admirable."

"Only this?" Murong Xiu clearly didn't hear the answer he wanted.

"Of course not only this!" General Shi continued: "The leader of that Ming insurgent army must be a resourceful person. Being able to quickly grasp the hearts of the people and gather so many people is not something an ordinary person can do.

More importantly, what he does must have a big plan!"

Murong Xiu nodded in agreement. "Exactly. This Ming insurgent army took the initiative to meet the Xiongnu, and later opened granaries to sell grain. Everything they did was for the hearts of the people. Then what is his purpose? Why would he need the hearts of the people?"

"This is very simple! Naturally, it is to go south!" General Shi said very obscurely, but both of them knew the meaning.

"This is the purpose of my finding brother today. Do you think..." Murong Xiu paused, "Can they succeed?"

General Shi smiled. "How can the world be so simple? Da Qian's foundation for many years, even the Jiangnan scholar-gentry and those nobles are not easy to provoke. What does he rely on? Relying on this one county of land?"

"Brother, continue to talk about your views!" Murong Xiu's expression was calm, without any change.

"Even without talking about Da Qian's foundation, he can't even pass the Prince of Xiliang!" General Shi shook his head. "Now the Jiangnan scholar-gentry supports the new Emperor, and the power of the nobles in the court will definitely be weakened.

How could these nobles swallow this breath? So the Prince of Xiliang is their best choice!"

Murong Xiu said unhurriedly: "Then you say, can the Prince of Xiliang accept us?"

Once this question was asked, General Shi understood the true purpose of this brother finding him today. He wanted to start choosing sides, otherwise, if he was late, there wouldn't even be soup left.

Regarding the future and life and death, General Shi didn't dare to answer easily. After serious thinking, he shook his head.

"It's difficult!"

"Why?"

"Beiting County is far from Xiliang. There are only two roads. One road is to go south to the Central Plains, take the army through the Central Plains to reach Xiliang. This is simply an impossible task. If I could go south through the Central Plains intact, would I still need to defect to the Prince of Xiliang?

The second road is to go north, then go west through countless cold death mountains, and then go south to reach Xiliang. No one has ever successfully crossed this distance, and wanting to arrive with a large army is even more difficult.

And without an army, we are completely worthless in the eyes of the Prince of Xiliang!"

These words were cruel but realistic. Their value was reflected in holding the army. Without people under their command, even if they wanted to defect to the Prince of Xiliang, they would have to queue up.

Murong Xiu had already considered these problems. "Exactly! Even if we want to defect to the Prince of Xiliang, people may not necessarily look down on us!"

"Brother, don't keep me in suspense!" General Shi smiled bitterly and shook his head. This kind of brain-using work was not suitable for him.

"If we start an uprising ourselves, what does brother think?" Murong Xiu used the most plain tone to say the most shocking words to General Shi.

General Shi's hand holding the teacup froze in place. "Murong... Brother, are you not joking with your brother?"

"Just chatting, but not joking!"

General Shi shook his head like a rattle: "This matter is inappropriate! The Ming Army's meaning is already very clear. If we start an uprising, we will definitely clash with them. What do I have to fight the Ming Army with?

They can chase the Xiongnu around and capture their main general alive. Should I take my head to fight him?

Relying on this body hollowed out by wine and sex, I'm afraid I'll be beheaded in one round!"

"I know!" Murong Xiu smiled faintly. Both of them were about the same!

"You know and you still bring this up?" General Shi was full of suspicion. This Murong Xiu still hadn't told the truth.

Murong Xiu sighed: "So we have no choice at all! We can only join the Ming Army!"

"Oh oh! So you were waiting for me here after talking for so long?" General Shi pointed his index finger at Murong Xiu. "You old rascal, tell me, what high position did the Ming Army promise you? Letting you come to be a lobbyist!"

"None!"

General Shi didn't believe a word. "Fart! I tell you! Don't sell me out. If you plot a high position, shouldn't you bring me one too?"

Murong Xiu smiled bitterly and shook his head. "I really don't have one! Isn't this just discussing with you?" ===== CHAPTER 271 =====