I studied in modern times

Chapter 844: Zong Ze's Sword
Qin He looked at the bloody man lying on the ground, with little breath left.

He frowned.

At this time, people had gathered on the official road leading in and out of Xiaoguan Town, pointing and talking.

"What are you looking at?!" Qin He waved his whistle stick: "This guy is a bandit!"

"Yes! Bandit!" His men also shouted: "This guy is a bandit disguised as a merchant, we have found out!"

"Stop talking!"

"Get out of here!"

"Get out of here!"

As they spoke, these people waved their bloody sticks and drove the crowd away.

Qin He turned his head to look at Li Sanyong who was still lying on the ground. He gritted his teeth and called out to two clerks he knew well: "Zhang Saner, Wang Da..."

"come here!"

He pointed at Li San lying on the ground and said, "Carry him away, carry him to the bank of the Bian River..."

The Bian River is the best place to dump corpses.

Every year, countless people are thrown into the Bian River. Most of them are eaten by fish and shrimp, and only a few float to the sluice gates downstream.

But it is so unrecognizable that it can't even be put together in its entirety.

The clerks named Zhang Saner and Wang Da came over but did not take action immediately. Instead, they looked at Qin He.

Qin He certainly understood what they meant - they had to pay more!

Qin He was helpless and said, "I'll leave you two a share of the wine shop in Xiaoguan Town!"

Zhang Saner and Wang Da then stepped forward with a smile on their faces and started to take action.

However, at this moment, a young man who looked like a scholar and was riding a horse from the direction of Bian Jing seemed to notice the situation here.

Qin He spotted the other party and hurried forward to stop him: "The government is arresting thieves, all outsiders, please disperse!"

But the other party was not afraid at all and did not believe Qin He's words. Instead, he continued to move forward.

Then he saw the vegetables scattered on the ground, the broken eggs, the smashed chicken coops, and a man lying on the ground, motionless.

His brows twitched, and he laughed in anger: "In broad daylight, in the open, how dare you call a deer a horse?"

As he said that, he jumped off the horse and walked straight towards Li Sanyong who was lying on the ground.

"You must be an accomplice of the bandits!" Qin He immediately jumped up when he saw this situation.

This is what he fears most.

A scholar from Bian Jing!
Who knows where he came from?
But now, I can’t care about all that anymore.

"Since you dare to step forward, you can't blame me!" Qin He thought viciously, waving the whistle stick in his hand and hitting the scholar.

however……

Although the other party looks gentle and refined.

But his body is incredibly flexible.

He dodged Qin He's whistle with just a slight flash.

Qin He was furious when he saw this, and called on the others: "Everyone, come together and catch this bandit's accomplice!"

When the other clerks heard Qin He's words, they looked at each other and were a little afraid to move forward.

After all, he was wearing a Confucian robe.

Qin He had no choice but to shout, "Do you want to die together?"

The clerks then realized that their hands were also stained with blood.

All they could do was bite the bullet, wield sticks, and charge forward.

However, the scholar was not afraid at all.

He turned around, grabbed the horse, and pulled out a snow-white sword from the horse's back.

"Confucius said it was benevolence, Mencius said it was righteousness!"

"I am Zong Ze, a student from the Imperial College!"

The clerks were shocked when they heard this: Shangshesheng? !
This is a person like Wenquxing!
Destined to be a high-ranking official in the future! ?

And, with a sword?
Could this be another Zhang Guaiya?
The story of Zhang Guaiya traveling around the world with a sword is a classic that has been passed down in Kaifeng Prefecture for decades and is a legend that countless people have heard since childhood.

Qin He looked at the others and could only shout, "Do you want to die?"

"Why don't you quickly catch this thief pretending to be a student?!"

If a Shangshesheng is asked to return to Bianjing alive, no one else will survive.

We can only find a way to keep him here and detain him, then we can talk.

It really doesn't work...

I can even exchange my life with him!

The clerks suddenly woke up, gritted their teeth, and followed Qin He around with sticks in hand.

Qin He even took out a machete that he had always worn around his waist.

He led his men to press forward step by step.

"If you surrender, you may be spared physical pain..."

"otherwise……"

"What else?" The student opposite laughed.

He held the sword in his hand and calmly faced the clerk in front of him, his eyes full of disdain.

Take Zong Ze for example. He has been farming with his father and brothers since he was a child, and he has developed brute strength working in the fields.

When he was twelve or thirteen years old, everyone in the surrounding area knew that there was a young man in the clan. Before he even reached the age of twenty, he could carry 300 kilograms on his shoulders and 100 kilograms in his hands.

When he was fourteen years old, his father and brother moved the whole family to the Twenty-Three Town in his hometown. In the Twenty-Three Town, he began to go to school and learned the scriptures and poetry of the saints.

At the same time, he also heard that the country was facing internal and external troubles, so he determined to be a real man, follow the example of the sages, and contribute to the country.

To contribute to the country, one must not only read the books of sages, but also be able to ride a horse and shoot arrows.

So he went to the town to look for people who had served in the army and asked them to teach him martial arts, archery and horsemanship.

At the age of eighteen, Zong Ze bid farewell to his father and brother and began his study abroad career.

In the following years, he traveled around the country to broaden his horizons, meet with scholars, and seek knowledge with a thirst for knowledge.

Until he was appreciated by Chen Mu, the governor of Mingzhou, he was recommended by Chen Mu and entered the Imperial College.

Before that, Zong Ze had met heroes on his travels, and also encountered soldiers who disguised themselves as heroes and robbed houses.

And he has never suffered any loss!
He even killed several wanted men by the government!
So, he had actually seen blood and fought head-on with others.

He is not like Qin He, who usually relies on his official uniform to oppress the people and bully the weak!

So, when Zong Ze faced Qin He and others with sword in hand, the result was not surprising.

In just a quarter of an hour, four or five officers were lying on the official road.

The rest of the people were already scared and looked at him tremblingly: "What a strong man..."

Their eyes were filled with fear, and they looked at the Confucian scholar in front of them as if they were seeing a devil.

Isn't it said that Confucian scholars are powerless?

What is the situation with this Confucian scholar in front of me?
Is he a student from the Imperial College? Or is he the king of the mountains in Shangluo?
Zong Ze looked at these people and shook his head.

He put away his sword, ignored them, and walked straight towards the merchant lying on the ground, his body covered in blood.

Zong Ze squatted down and reached out to feel the other person's breath.

There is no breath anymore!

He sighed.

Then, Zong Ze looked around.

There were vegetable leaves thrown all over the ground by the clerks, broken eggs that were all over the cart, and an old donkey cart with wooden boards of various sizes nailed on it.

He almost knew what happened.
Zong Ze has traveled far and wide and heard people talk about this kind of thing countless times.

Despite this, facing such a tragedy, he was still deeply moved, and inexplicably recalled the poems of Shihao Li.

Zong Ze looked at the poor man in front of him and couldn't help asking himself.

Whose son is this?
Whose brother is he?

Whose husband? Whose father?
His parents, brothers, wife and children must be missing him at home, right? !
And I am a student of the Imperial College!
He was a student of the sage, a disciple of the sage, and was also encouraged by the government.

Confucius said to achieve martyrdom, Mencius said to pursue righteousness!
Scholars and officials, when you encounter such things, you must never sit idly by!

and so……

He will take care of this matter!

Even if he had to take the case to the Dali Temple, he would still seek justice for this stranger he had never met before!

The emperor today is wise and enlightened, and the court is full of upright people and gentlemen. I believe they will not tolerate such things!
Thinking of this, Zong Ze stood up and looked forward.

The few clerks who were there just now had all fled in a hurry, and no one knew where they had gone.

Only the wounded on the ground were struggling and screaming.

Zong Ze looked at the crowd watching, bowed and asked: "May I ask, elders, in which direction is the Chenliu County Government Office?"

……

“Everyone…Everyone…”

Zhao Xu heard someone calling him while he was sleeping.

He opened his eyes and saw Di Qiang's pretty face, which was as smooth as cream and without a single flaw.

She seemed a little nervous. Her peach-like eyes drooped immediately after meeting Zhao Xu's gaze, and she dared not look him in the eye.

"whats the matter?"

"Shi Duzhi begged for an audience on starry night..." Di Qiang said softly.

"Shi Deyi?" Zhao Xu sat up, and Di Qiang quickly put a robe on him.

"What happened?" Zhao Xu asked.

Di Qiang lowered her head and said, "I dare not ask..."

The Empress Dowager Xiang was very good at training female officials.

Under her personal education and supervision, the three women around Zhao Xu and other female officials were all well-behaved and did not dare to make the slightest mistake.

"Oh!" Zhao Xu stood up and said, "Let's ask him to come in and talk!"

"Yes!" Di Qiang bowed, then turned and said to an old female official standing in a corner of the bedroom.

The old female official appeared from the foot of the wall and bowed to Zhao Xu.

Then he led the palace maids, female officials and Di Qiang in the hall and retreated outside the curtain.

Zhao Xu stood up, walked to the door of the bedroom, and looked at the clepsydra placed at the door.

"It's three quarters past midnight!" he said softly, frowning.

At this time, Shi Deyi suddenly asked for a meeting. It seemed that something big must have happened!

After a while, Shi Deyi's figure appeared in front of the curtain.

"Go inside and greet everyone!"

"I'm fine!" Zhao Xu said, "Please come in and talk!"

"promise!"

Shi Deyi bowed again and again but did not come in immediately. Instead, he stood at the door and accepted the careful examination of the old female official.

To ensure that he did not carry anything harder than a piece of wood. This was also arranged by the Queen Mother.

The queen who came from a scholar-official family was indeed very careful in this regard.

Therefore, not only is the security of the inner bedroom very strict, but outside the bedroom, there is also the Royal Dragon Guard led by the three brothers Yan Yuan, who guard in three shifts around the clock.

After checking, Shi Deyi straightened his clothes and walked into the curtain. He came in front of Zhao Xu and bowed, saying, "Everyone!"

"What's the matter?" Zhao Xu asked directly without any greetings.

"Everyone is in trouble..."

"kindness?"

"The patrolmen of Chenliu County are reporting that yesterday afternoon, the tax collectors of Xiaoguan Town beat to death a vegetable vendor who came to Beijing to sell vegetables..."

Zhao Xu frowned: "Didn't I tell you to choose a place far away from Bianjing?"

Chenliu County is too close to Bianjing!
People as close as Bian Jing can go to the local area to check it out.

What should I do if someone catches my chicken feet?
Will you shed tears and execute Ma Su when the time comes?
Yes, Zhao Xu arranged for scouts from the Investigation Department to go to the local area and fan the flames.

And they are adding fuel to the fire from both sides.

On the one hand, select a few brave, fearless young men who have no parents, brothers, wives or daughters.

Encourage them and urge them not to be afraid and just do it!
He also took articles from the Bian Jing New News to encourage them.

At the same time, he used his insiders to find a few people similar to Zhen Guanxi among the clerks.

Add fuel to the fire, do not blame everyone for the statement, and at the same time amplify the panic of the clerks, and stir up the demons in these people's hearts as much as possible.

This is imitating the modern FBI, planting spies and hooks on both sides.

Afraid of not being able to make big news!
However, Zhao Xu was afraid that the Investigation Department’s professional capabilities were not up to par and that they would be caught by someone and be lured out.

Therefore, the Investigation Department was required to operate only at the border of Kaifeng Prefecture, and the north was directly ruled out - it was too close!

and so……

How is this going?

Being stared at by Zhao Xu, Shi Deyi felt a little scared and bowed quickly, "Let me tell you, the incident in Chenliu County was a complete accident..."

As he spoke, he introduced to Zhao Xu the situation reported by Chenliu County overnight.

Zhao Xu listened and sat back on the bed.

For some reason, he felt a little cold and couldn't help but tighten his clothes.

"So... it was an accident?" he asked softly.

"Yes..." Shi Deyi bowed his head and said.

Zhao Xu hummed, and he felt the bedroom getting colder and colder.

In fact, Zhao Xu had transferred all the supervisory officials away but did not appoint new ones.

He already knew that the probability of such a thing happening was close to 100%!

The reason is very simple.

The clerks are a group that is used to being domineering and overbearing in the countryside.

In the past, even though there were supervisory officials keeping an eye on things, some merchants would still be unjustly killed from time to time.

Kaifeng Prefecture receives dozens of similar cases every year.

There are still victims, and they are willing to file a complaint.

There are so many unjust cases that have no victims or whose victims cannot come!

Now, there is no one above them who is watching them.

Given their temperament, it's only a matter of time before someone kills them.

That is, Zhao Xu immediately ordered the abolition of excessive taxes.

This forces these people to act like grandsons, watch the wind direction, and be wary.

otherwise……

Similar things have happened countless times.

only……

Zhao Xu still has some conscience after all.

Not much though!

After all, he had been influenced by modern civilization for ten years, and in his previous life, he was a monarch with a strong Confucian spirit of benevolence and care. Otherwise, he would not have agreed to the request of his court officials. Fearing that the troops along the border would kill innocent people for merit, he raised the reward for capturing Tangut women and children alive to the same level as the reward for beheading them, in order to stop the killing and prevent the indiscriminate killing of innocent people.

So, at this moment, he felt that the bedroom was gloomy, as if there were wronged souls crying.

Because his conscience told him.

If he wasn't so ambitious, if he just wanted the clerks in Kaifeng Prefecture to find a new master, there wouldn't be any need for anyone to die.

He has countless bloodless methods.

No matter what!

He wants too much, too big!
Therefore, bloodshed is necessary.

For this reason, he even asked Shi Deyi to take the initiative to add fuel to the fire, for fear that someone would die!

"Kindness does not command the army, and righteousness does not command wealth!" Zhao Xu told himself in his heart: "I am not wrong!"

Then he loosened his clothes, and the bedroom was no longer cold.

He told himself: "I can't be wrong!"

Every person in a high position must possess one quality - once a decision is made, there must not be any wavering or regret!
Looking back and forth, hesitating, will only lead to the bitter fruit of failure in the end.

With this thought in mind, Zhao Xu calmly looked at Shi Deyi and asked, "The patrol officers of the Investigation Department reported that there were students at the scene?"

"Yes!"

"What is your name?"

"Zongze!"

Zhao Xu widened his eyes: "Zong Ze?"

"Yes!"

"He witnessed the scene?"

"No, he arrived later. When they found that the victim had been beaten to death by the clerks and were about to move the victim's body away, he appeared..."

"and then?"

"Zong Ze stopped the clerks..." Shi Deyi replied: "Of course the clerks refused and wanted to frame Zong Ze, so Zong Ze drew his sword and stood up..."

"Did you draw your sword?" Zhao Xu asked, "What was the result?"

"One dead and three injured!"

"So powerful?!" Zhao Xu was surprised, but then he was relieved.

This is Grandpa Zong!

And the Grandpa Zong in the mouths of the Jurchens!
In modern history books, he is remembered as the figure who turned the tide after the Jingkang Incident north of the Yellow River, almost single-handedly recovered parts of the north, and rebuilt the defenses around Bianliang.

If it weren’t for the fact that he met Wanyan Gou.

If only there was someone with some courage... no, even an emperor with an average appearance, such as Liu Chan.

Perhaps, inspired by the two heroes, Zong Ze and Yue Fei, the Song army could push back and truly break through the Helan Mountain Pass!
Unfortunately, the person he met was Wanyan Gou!
What a waste!
No, even trash is stronger than Wanyan Gou!
Thinking of this, Zhao Xu clapped his hands and praised: "Good! You are brave and righteous, you are worthy of being the young talent I have chosen!"

"Where is Zong Ze now?" Zhao Xu asked.

"The prison of Chenliu County yamen..."

Zhao Xu stood up suddenly and glared angrily!

"County government? Prison!?"

"He is a student, who caught him?!"

Shi Deyi bowed and said, "I heard that Zong Ze seemed to have turned himself in to the county government office after discovering the murder..."

"How foolish!" Zhao Xu shook his head and sighed in his heart: "If you want to surrender, you should surrender in Kaifeng Prefecture!"

"How can we get to Chenliu County Government? Isn't this like a sheep walking into a tiger's mouth?"

But in his heart, Zhao Xu was extremely satisfied with Zong Ze's loyalty and bravery.

This is the minister he wants!
Such loyal ministers must be protected!
"Miss Di!" Zhao Xu said to the outside of the curtain.

"I am here!"

"Go and call Yan Chen to me!"

The person on duty outside Baoci Palace tonight is Yan Da’s youngest son Yan Chen.

"promise!"

A moment later, Yan Chen, wearing armor, came outside the curtain and knelt down to pay respect: "I, the commander of the left wing of the Imperial Dragon Army, respectfully wish His Majesty the Emperor the best of health!"

"Who is guarding Donghua Gate tonight?" Zhao Xu asked.

"Your Majesty, it's Liang Yaban!"

"Liang Congji?"

"Yes!"

"Go to Donghua Gate immediately and convey my order to Liang Congji..."

When Zhao Xu said this, he suddenly stopped giving orders and asked Liang Congji to mobilize troops immediately.

Because the palace of the Song Dynasty was strictly guarded, after the palace gates were locked, only the prime ministers and with the emperor's permission could enter and leave the palace.

No one else is allowed to step out of or into the palace.

Violators - tribe!

This is a bloody lesson.

And in the middle of the night like this, if he, as the emperor, gave an order to Liang Congji, ordering him to lead his troops out of the palace and out of the city.

Inevitably, it would cause unrest in the capital - there was no curfew in the city of Bianjing.

At this time, the night market in Bianjing City is at its busiest.

On both sides of the Imperial Street and on the north and south sides of the Zhou Bridge, there were crowds of people and heavy traffic.

At this time, the Donghua Gate opened and a group of soldiers from the Imperial City Division ran out. What would people think if they saw this?
Tomorrow morning, I'm afraid all the ministers will come to ask what happened.
Can Zhao Xu tell them - I am trying to save people?

Isn't this equivalent to putting Zong Ze on the fire?

But the people must be rescued immediately.

Zhao Xu was really worried that the bastards in Chenliu County would kill someone just to cover his mouth.

So, after thinking for a while, Zhao Xu said: "Go and tell Liang Congji to take a few people, change into civilian clothes, take the seal of the Imperial City Bureau and leave the city, rush to Chenliu County overnight, and take over the Chenliu County prison..."

"be quick!"

"We must arrive in Chenliu before the hour of Mao!" Zhao Xu emphasized.

As for whether Liang Congji could travel more than fifty miles in more than two hours?

Sure!
Because Liang Congji is a fierce general who has been fighting against the Western bandits for more than ten years!
A few years ago, he was wounded more than ten times in a battle with Western bandits, but he fought hard and never retreated.

Today, although he has returned to Beijing to retire, his abilities are still there.

He traveled overnight, and two hours was more than enough for the round trip.

"promise!"

(End of this chapter)