"Liu Jun! Did you go to Chongguang Temple?!"
Shi Yao hurried into the inner room, his face full of worry.
"Don't be fooled by these thieves!"
Liu Taozi ignored him and continued to order Yao Xiong beside him: "Invite the county officials to expand the scope of the inspection. Don't forget to go to Dunqiu, and urge the tours there to cooperate with your inspection."
Yao Xiong listened very seriously. He wrote down Tao Zi's instructions and turned to leave.
Shi Yao came closer again, "Liu Jun, the words of that thief monk from Chongguang Temple cannot be trusted!"
Liu Taozi finally looked at him, "Shi Gong, please sit down."
Shi Yao then sat next to Liu Taozi, his brows furrowed and his face solemn.
"Why did you go to Sogoji Temple?"
"have a look."
"Then what did they say?"
"Said that I am haunted by an innocent ghost."
"Wrongful soul??"
Shi Yao's face became a little distorted, and he took a deep breath to calm himself down.
"What a big joke. If there really is an innocent soul, then Sogou Temple should be filled with evil ghosts and become a hell on earth!"
Shi Yao's face was solemn, "The evil deeds of the thief monks of Chongguang Temple in these years are really beyond description."
"There is no need to talk about things like pretending to be clever, defrauding money, seizing farmland, forcing people into slavery, hoarding grain and raising grain prices."
"These people secretly do business in buying and selling women and children, abducting children, and other evil deeds."
Shi Yao's lips trembled for a long time, and he shook his head, "I really can't say it."
"And they are extremely cunning. If they meet someone like Lou Rui, they can't wait to come out and commit evil. If they meet someone like Liu Jun, they quickly close the door and hide in the temple and refuse to come out, no matter what they told Liu Jun.
Please don’t believe anything, Mr. Liu, if you want to govern Liyang, you must get rid of these thieves first!!"
Liu Taozi could not comment and did not answer the call.
Shi Yao added: "Although they are hiding their actions, many evil deeds cannot be concealed. I once found that they built many secret passages inside and outside the temple. As long as I go and check, I will definitely find evidence. In addition, there are many secret passages in the city.
Few people have suffered from their cruel hands, but they are afraid of their power and dare not speak out. As long as Liu Jun takes action, they can stand up and accuse!"
"In addition, if we can find out their financial transactions with many wealthy families, it will be an ironclad proof!"
"I am willing to find these people for Liu Jun."
Liu Taozi finally interrupted him and asked: "Ayana said that Chongguang Temple is close to the Queen Mother, is it true?"
Shi Yao hesitated for a moment and nodded, "It's true."
"After I took office, the Queen Mother came three times. The whole city was under martial law. My official position was humble and I was not able to meet her. I only heard that they sent some magical weapons to the Queen Mother and they often exchanged letters. Therefore, Lou Rui was extremely partial to them."
"Then what's the point of you asking for evidence?"
"To whom?"
"Show it to Yang Xiang!"
Shi Yao said confidently: "I know what Mr. Yang is like. If he knew that Chongguang Temple was dirty and dirty, he would never condone these evil thieves!!"
Liu Taozi was very indifferent, "This place is only three days away from Yecheng. The Queen Mother has come here three times. Does Yang Xiang really not know the situation here?"
Shi Yao shook his head, "That's because His Majesty Emperor Daxing is still here, and Prime Minister Yang can't do anything! It's different now!"
"But why do I feel that without His Majesty the Emperor Daxing, Prime Minister Yang will be even more powerless?"
Shi Yao still has that stubborn face. In Cheng'an, Taozi's hometown, they usually call this kind of person a "circling cow", which means a stubborn cow that cannot be driven without a nose ring. In Liyang, it is called "stubborn"
donkey'.
Shi Yao firmly believed in his own judgment.
Liu Taozi said no more, "Okay, then Mr. Shi will go look for evidence. If you find it, let me know."
Only then did Shi Yao take the order. Just as he was about to leave, he saw a dusty man walking in from the door.
"Brother!!"
Kou Liu bowed to Liu Taozi and Shi Yao was overjoyed, "Have you finished sending the letter?!"
Kou Liu ignored him and just looked at Liu Taozi. Liu Taozi motioned for him to get up. Kou Liu then sat next to Liu Taozi. He looked thinner and darker, but his energy was good.
With bright eyes, he quickly took out a book from his arms and carefully handed it to Liu Taozi.
"Brother, this is the book that Prime Minister Yang asked me to give you. It talks about the political strategy."
Liu Taozi took the book and put it aside.
Shi Yao was stunned for a moment, "Tell me, has the letter been delivered?"
"Sent it. Yang Xiang has seen it. He said that the matter will be resolved in fifteen days. Ask Mr. Shi to wait a little longer."
"Fifteenth"
Shi Yao suddenly became very excited, "Li Yang saved the world and finally he was saved!"
“These are fresh”
As soon as Shi Yao opened his mouth, he saw Kou Liu sitting beside him. He closed his mouth, saluted Liu Taozi, and left with excitement on his face.
Kou Liu was very unhappy at the moment. He frowned and didn't know what he was thinking.
Liu Taozi looked at the retreating figure of Shi Yao, but his eyes were a little complicated. He shook his head lightly, and then looked at Kou Liu, "I'll give you three days off to rest. We will do something big soon."
Already."
"only!!"
"Brother, can I go back to Cheng'an?"
"I want to see my mother."
"Okay, say hello to her for me."
"only!!"
As he rode his horse along the official road, Kou Liu didn't feel tired.
He has loved riding horses and traveling since he was a child, and has never found it tiring. When he was a child, he would ride out on a bamboo horse and disappear as soon as he went out. His mother often went to the streets and shouted, looking for him, but she often had to find him.
It took a whole day to find him. After his mother caught him, she always pinched his ears and laughed and called him "little Hu'er".
It’s not quite winter, but the weather is getting cooler now.
Although the sun is still hanging in the sky, people can't feel any warmth. All the vegetation seems to have withered, and both sides of the road have become bare. Fallen leaves are mixed with mud, giving off a rotten smell.
Kou Liu's eyes were quite alert. Even though he was running wildly, his hand was always holding the handle of the knife, and his body was kept as low as possible, almost lying on the horse's back.
Fortunately, he didn't encounter any thieves along the way.
At the moment, the area around Cheng'an is relatively safe. There are a few groups of thieves in Liyang, but they don't seem to dare to take the lead.
In this way, we arrived at the familiar Zhangcun.
Wooden fences have been erected outside Zhang Village at this moment, at all entrances, and there are people guarding the door, watching the situation outside.
Several lines of smoke can be seen rising from the distance.
The gatekeeper saw Kou Liu and ran away quickly. Kou Liu was not in a hurry to go in. Zhang Erlang soon appeared here with his people. Seeing that it was Kou Liu, he breathed a sigh of relief and smiled to make people laugh.
The door.
"Kou-kun!!"
Zhang Erlang was not very old. Although he was wearing official uniform, his appearance was too immature. When he led everyone out to greet him, there was an indescribable feeling of disobedience.
Kou Liu got off his horse, met everyone, and then walked into the village.
The village was not too lively, but it was very pleasant. There were children driving the sheep and jumping along the path. Kou Liu and others took the initiative to avoid them.
Kou's mother currently lives in Zhangcun. Compared with the past, Kou's mother is much more energetic. Here, she has not too many peers of her own age, and they can get together to chat from time to time.
"Don't worry, my son!"
"I am very happy here, with kind neighbors who help and take care of me."
Kou Liu stayed at home for a day, and as soon as he said goodbye to his mother the next day and went out, Zhang Erlang stopped him.
"Kou Jun, before, Mr. Lu sent someone to ask if Brother Taozi was back. He said that he hadn't replied to him for a long time and told me that if anyone comes back, he should go to the county government office to find him."
"Okay."
The road from here to the county seat is not far away, and it won't take much time. Kou Liu rushed towards Cheng'an City on horseback.
The road leading to Cheng'an has become much more lively at this moment. You can see vendors leading donkeys and people pushing carts along the road. People are coming and going, but it is not as deserted as in the past.
When Kou Liu came to the city gate, he was stopped by the city gatekeepers. They came forward excitedly and greeted Kou Liu.
"What about Li Yang? Where is Mr. Liu? Why didn't he come back?"
Kou Liu chatted with them for a few words and then went to the county government office. The city was quite lively with people coming and going. As soon as Kou Liu reached the gate of the county government office, someone rushed up to him and grabbed his hand.
That was none other than the county government official, Old Man Xu.
"Kou Liu?! Is that you?!"
"Why don't you believe it as soon as you leave?"
"Where's Mr. Liu? Didn't he come back?"
Old man Xu stuck his head out and looked around. Kou Liu replied: "Brother has never come back. He is quite busy over there."
Old man Xu was a little disappointed. He sighed, "I was still thinking of taking Mr. Liu as my grandson-in-law, but I didn't expect him to leave like this! What a pity, what a pity!"
Kou Liu had no time to continue listening to what Old Man Xu said. He muttered a few perfunctory words and hurried into the county government office.
Old Man Xu watched him walk in and shook his head again.
When Lu Qubing saw Kou Liu, he couldn't hide the surprise in his eyes. He jumped up suddenly and walked quickly to Kou Liu's side. He seemed to have forgotten that Kou Liu was the disaster he hated most.
Xianbei', enthusiastically held his hand.
"Since you left, there has been no news. I wrote two letters to Brother Taozi, but he never replied to me. Is that all there is to say about Liyang?"
When talking about this incident, Lu Qubing felt particularly aggrieved.
Kou Liu hurriedly said: "Brother is really busy in Liyang."
"Come, come, sit down, someone, get some tea!"
Lu Qubing pulled Kou Liu to sit down, his eyes were particularly bright, "How are you doing? Where is Brother Taozi? How is he? How are you getting along with the local officials?"
Kou Liu hesitated a little, "Everything is fine. My brother gets along well with the local officials. They are all very polite."
"Oh? It seems like a lot of things happened over there?"
Kou Liu smiled bitterly, "Actually, I don't know. I have been running around these days. I just returned to Liyang yesterday. As soon as I returned, I heard Yao Xiong talking about what happened there."
"What did he say?"
Kou Liu hesitated and relayed Yao Xiong's words to Lu Qubing.
Yao Xiong's words are naturally a bit exaggerated. He fought against the powerful in Nancheng and killed six thousand thieves. He beheaded the thieves' chieftain in a formation and blood flowed like a river. He attacked the rebels in Dongli and destroyed their clan, leaving no chickens or dogs behind.
Lu Qubing was dumbfounded.
"Is the Li family in Liyang the family of the late Li Gou, the official minister?"
"I don't know. Anyway, their family is dead. I thought Yao Xiong was bluffing me. I went to check before I left. They are indeed dead. There is no place to hang the heads on the city gate. They have poles.
Hanging outside, the drainage ditches of the streets in Nancheng are still black, full of stench, and full of rats and wild dogs. It is really scary, even scarier than our east city."
"I haven't gone to see Dongli, but it should be about the same."
Listening to Kou Liu's words, Lu Qubing looked a little confused, "The traitors who harm the people should be killed, but these people all have backgrounds. Taozi is just the county magistrate. If he kills everyone like this, how can the prefect forgive him?"
"The prefect seems to think highly of his brother. He gave me a sword called Huajian. I heard it was the sword of the past Wei Emperor."
"Hua collar sword???"
"Yes, it seems to be a pretty name."
"You say it, you keep saying it"
Lu Qubing looked directly at Kou Liu's mouth, listening to his jerky description of Li Yang.
Most of them were heard by Kou Liu. He was in Liyang, either catching up on sleep during the day or going out to deliver letters. He was not involved in any major events. He heard it all when Yao Xiong was bragging.
His mouth was dry as he spoke, but Lu Qubing still didn't let him go. Lu Qubing not only liked telling stories, he also liked listening to them.
After confirming that Kou Liu could never tell anything again, Lu Qubing let Kou Liu go in despair.
He took out the letter from his arms again and handed it to Kou Liu, "Give this letter to Brother Taozi in person for me! Tell him to reply to me!!"
"only!!"
"You also have to work hard. Don't just be an errand. You have to find opportunities to study more and increase your abilities. Otherwise, how will you continue to follow Tao Zi in the future?"
"I understand, thank you Mr. Lu!"
Kou Liu left in a hurry, Taozi only gave him three days' leave, and he had to return to Liyang early.
After sending Kou Liu away, Lu Qubing walked into the county government office with a smile on his face.
In the backyard, County Magistrate Lu Yao was smiling, eating tea and looking through the many documents in front of him.
Cheng'an received great treatment in his hands.
There is peace inside and outside, the people can barely live and work in peace and contentment, there are no bandits outside, and there are no cruel officials inside. Everything is as expected by Duke Yang.
The land grants have been distributed, the deceased have been properly accommodated, no disease or rebellion has been caused, and the county government has obeyed its orders and worked together as one.
Lu Yao couldn't help but laugh. It was indeed a clever plan to send Liu Taozi away. Once he left, everything got better and he had nothing to worry about.
Although there was great turmoil in the temple, it had nothing to do with Lu Yao. He had some friendship with both Yang Min and King Changshan.
"Mr. Lu!! It's not good!!"
Hearing an exclamation, Lu Yao choked on his tea and started coughing. Chief Qian rushed in in a panic, sweating profusely.
Lu Yao cleared his throat and looked at him, "What happened?"
"Liu Taozi! It's Liu Taozi!"
"What?! He's back again?!"
"No, Liu Taozi caused big trouble in Liyang!!"
Master Qian gasped and said intermittently: "He killed several wealthy families in Liyang. I heard that he killed tens of thousands of people at one time and the moat turned into a river of blood."
Lu Yao pursed his lips and said, "Bad words!"
"What's the population of Liyang? How many thousands were killed? Then Liyang is an empty city! Also, Liyang has no moat at all!"
"Liu Taozi sent people to the county government and met with Lu Xiancheng. Now everyone in the county government knows that it is true! Several wealthy families in Liyang County were killed by Liu Taozi. He said it was
They killed all the chickens and dogs and burned down all their mansions."
Lu Yao stared at Master Qian's book dumbfounded and was speechless for a long time.
He didn't believe that Liu Taozi killed tens of thousands of people in Liyang, but to say that Liu Taozi killed everyone in Liyang sounded like something he could do.
He was silent for a moment, then slowly picked up the tea and put it in his mouth.
"Mr. Lu, what should we do now? It was you who pushed him up with all your strength, and now he is killing people. Do they think it has something to do with you?"
Lu Yao's hand holding the tea trembled and he almost spilled the tea.
He stared blankly ahead, ate his tea stiffly, and said nothing.
The county government office was particularly lively.
Everyone was talking about this matter happily and excitedly. When they talked about Liu Taozi's incident in Liyang, they looked very proud and proud.
Old man Xu stood at the door, happily listening to the words of the people coming and going.
The sky was getting dark, a curfew was imposed in the city, and Old Man Xu also closed the door. As an official, he could live in the county government office or at home, it was not fixed, as long as there was no delay in closing the door and opening the door.
On this day, he went home.
His home was not far from the county government office. After passing through an alley, he arrived at his home.
Returning to the courtyard, he closed the door and walked into the inner room.
A beautiful girl is sitting in the house. The beautiful girl is not yet twenty years old. Her skin is white and tender, her eyes are clear, and she smiles with tiger teeth. She is really beautiful and makes people feel itchy. She is sitting on the bed, sewing.
What was she carrying? When she saw old man Xu walking in, she quickly put down her things.
Old man Xu sat opposite her expressionlessly and looked towards the inner room, "Come out."
A middle-aged man with an ordinary appearance came out of the inner room, exuding a foul smell. He waved his hand, and the beautiful girl quickly got up and left, and he sat in that position.
"Liu Taozi sent someone back to the county office today, but he never came back. This woman came for nothing, and there was no chance for Liu Taozi to meet her."
Sitting opposite the old man, he looked like a secret agent from the Northern Zhou Dynasty who had contacted the store and was a dung picker.
Old Man Xu complained: "It's a pity that this kid just left like this. When he was in Cheng'an, we didn't even have to do anything. Once he made a move, it was a 'big credit'. Just watch him perform at his best. The generals all praised us."
Several times, they have paid special attention to us. Now, they want to let those people in Liyang take advantage of them."
The dung picker didn't answer. He said coldly: "I'm looking for you today to announce an important event."
"The King of Heaven has officially called him the Emperor, and he has given King Wen Tian the posthumous title of Emperor Wen. From now on, everyone will be called His Majesty, not the King of Heaven."
"ah??"
Old Man Xu was overjoyed and said excitedly: "Okay! Great! I have finally ascended the throne and become the emperor! It should have been like this a long time ago!!"
He quickly raised his head again and asked, "Has my general ever been promoted to a noble rank?"
The originally calm dung picker also showed some displeasure at this moment, "No."
"Since you have ascended the throne as emperor, how can you not join my family as a general??"
"The general has never been promoted, but others have been promoted to the title of General Zhuzhu. Do you still remember his son who was conferred the title of General of Hussars at the age of sixteen?"
"Remember, your name is Yang Yang Jian?"
"Yes, even he has become a county official. But he has not been conferred the title of general in my family. He is still a county official to this day."
"Well, my general has made a lot of contributions, but in the end, this title is not as good as a baby?"
"When can I meet the Lord Ming?"
Chapter completed!