The Great Qin Empire---Qin Li

After leaving the Dong Zhang residence, looking back at the tall door lintel, Chen Ping's hands were still trembling slightly...

Just now in the hall, he seemed to finish his speech calmly, but Chen Ping's heart was already excited.

This was the most brainstorming and the most exhausting performance he had made after the "stealing sister-in-law case".

Years of hard study, all used today.

Chen Ping was very confident in his own strategy. He let Zhang lend grain to the people and pay the thousand-stone grain on their behalf, and then pay it back in autumn. This strategy was inspired by the daily borrowing in the countryside. Chen Ping's family was poor, and when he really couldn't make ends meet, he had to follow Uncle Chen to borrow grain from rich people. He remembered it after hearing it.

This idea was not very brilliant, but it was used in the most appropriate place.

First, it allowed Hei Fu to successfully complete the task of collecting grain. Secondly, it can help the Zhang family gain the reputation and prestige they value. Thirdly, it can help the villagers not to starve during the lean season.

But the most important thing is that Chen Ping once again fully demonstrated his talent in front of Qin Li and the local tyrants! And after this matter is spread, he will be praised by all the villagers.

Chen Ping is a very selfish person. Even if he offers advice, he will not lose his share of benefits.

However, Heifu, who was walking in front, seemed to see through him. After leaving Zhang's house, he smiled and said to Chen Ping: "Chen Ping's strategy is to kill four birds with one stone, and it is a win-win strategy! Without your grain loan strategy, it would be impossible to convince Zhang to pay 2,000 dan of grain at one time just by paying grain and becoming a noble. Chen Ping, if this matter spreads, you will be famous in the village..."

Chen Ping was shocked and bowed quickly, saying: "How dare I, if there is no trust from the patrol to take me into Zhang's house to discuss with the two Zhangs, I can't even enter this door."

"No."

Hei Fu shook his head and said, "After coming to Wei, I heard a story. It is said that during the siege of Handan, Lord Pingyuan of Zhao wanted to go to Chu for help. He originally wanted to bring 20 people, but in the end only 19 were gathered. Among his retainers, there was a man named Mao Sui who requested to go with him. Lord Pingyuan felt that Mao Sui had been under his tutelage for three years but still had no achievements. He said that talented and wise men live in the world, just like an awl placed in a bag, its tip will immediately show up..."

"But Mao Sui said, if I had been placed in your bag, I would have stood out long ago, how could I only show a little bit of my edge? So Lord Pingyuan took Mao Sui with him. After arriving in Chu, Mao Sui really showed his talents and lived up to his mission."

Hei Fu pointed at Chen Ping and said, "Chen Ping, you are also a sharp awl. For many years, you have been looked down upon by the villagers and have not been well-known because you are outstanding. Now, I have only put you in my pocket for a few days, and your edge has immediately been revealed. I believe that in time, you will be able to stand out in Huyou, in Yangwu, and even in the world!"

Chen Ping was still listening quietly at first, but he was a little excited later, because this was the first time in many years that someone had affirmed his talent so much.

He immediately bowed his head and thanked him, "You Jiao gave Chen Ping two opportunities. First, he helped me get rid of slander, and then gave me the opportunity to show my talents. Chen Ping dare not forget it, and Chen Ping will also remember You Jiao's praise today for the rest of his life!"

But, it is just that he dare not forget it and remember it for the rest of his life. Bow down and worship? Be loyal from then on? Chen Ping is not the kind of person who is grateful and loyal when he is treated well. He is very selfish.

He would sell his talents and wisdom, but he would never sell himself.

He would give advice to others, but he would never sacrifice his life to achieve success.

Heifu did not ask Chen Ping to follow his orders now. After all, according to the Qin system, officials could not take away even an old subordinate when they were transferred, let alone Chen Ping who had no official position.

Even if he wanted to accept retainers, he had to be a Shuchang or Liehou to be qualified and worthy of people's support. He was just a nobody, so it was too far-fetched to think about these.

It would be enough to leave a favor and help Chen Ping, so that he would be impressed and a little grateful.

In addition to verbal praise, there must be material rewards. Heifu said to Chen Ping: "Just your grain loan plan is worth a lot of money and grain. Tomorrow, take 200 half-liang coins and two stone of rice home, just as a reward for my advice to you."

A penny can make a hero difficult. Chen Ping was overjoyed when he heard this. He was wise, but not noble, and was very willing to bend for five pecks of rice.

The two of them just cooperated very well. Zhang Bo and Zhang Fu had agreed to the plan of paying grain and loaning grain, but it was late at night, so they decided to get together after dawn tomorrow to discuss the details and how to escort the grain.

"When we discuss tomorrow, you can come together." Heifu said: "Make a record document and see if you can find out if there are any omissions..."

This gives Chen Ping more opportunities to perform. How can he not be overjoyed?

As they were talking, the two had already walked out of the east building where Zhang Bo lived. When they were about to turn to the main road of the township outside, they saw a black shadow flash in front of them. A man blocked the way and shouted.

"I want to see the patrol!"

...

"Who?" Dongmen Bao and Gong Ao were very alert. They immediately stepped forward with blades.

In the faint light, the man saw two Qin army men rushing towards him fiercely. He was horrified and knelt on the ground with his hands raised high.

"I am a local villager. I have something to report to the patrol!"

Hei Fu waved his hand and asked Dongmen Bao and Gong Ao to bring the man over. He saw that he was a middle-aged man in black clothes. He seemed to be a servant of some family. His face was bruised and swollen, and it seemed that he had been beaten in the past few days.

The man had a heavy accent and was flustered, so he spoke quickly. Hei Fu couldn't hear clearly because Zhong Ming had been sent back by him before, so he could only ask Chen Ping to relay the message.

"I have something to report to the patrol!"

Hei Fu looked around and saw that there was no one in the nearby alleys: "What do you want to report?"

The man said: "Yesterday, I saw a wooden board hung by the patrol in the market. I can't read, so I asked others what was written on it. Others told me that the Qin army wanted Zhang Er, the former magistrate of Waihuang, and his wife and son. Those who capture Zhang Er will be rewarded with 100 gold coins, and those who capture his wife and son will be rewarded with 10 gold coins. If you can report it, you will also be rewarded with 5 taels of gold. I would like to ask the patrol, is this true?"

After Chen Ping relayed the message, Hei Fu was stunned. It seemed that this person knew the whereabouts of Zhang Er and his wife and son? Could it be that he guessed wrong, and Zhang Er and his wife were really near Yangwu County?

This is a big fish. He immediately asked: "Every word of the promise on the wanted order is true. If you can report it, there will be a reward. Please report it quickly!"

The man was overjoyed when he heard it, and bowed his head again and said: "I am a servant in Zhang's house in the east building, working in the backyard. Two months ago, Mr. Zhang marked out a separate small courtyard in the backyard, saying that it was for distant relatives to live in."

Chen Ping was shocked when he heard it, and thought to himself that it was not good, but he could only continue to relay it.

"A few days later, a mother and son came. The carriage was tightly closed. When they got off the carriage, they also wore bamboo hats. From that day on, they lived in the backyard and never went out. They never participated in Zhang's banquets and dinners. They just asked us to deliver meals every day. Zhang Jun himself visited every other day."

"The servants in the mansion were secretly discussing that they were Zhang Jun's concubines and illegitimate sons. But one day, when I was cleaning outside the small courtyard, I heard Zhang Jun talking to the mother and son inside. He called them Madam, mentioned Zhang Er's name, and called the young man Zhang Ao..."

The Zhang mansion servant raised his face that was almost deformed by the beating, and muttered: "I didn't take it to heart until I saw the wanted notice of Zhang Er in the township market. Then I felt something was wrong. The son of Zhang Er is called Zhang Ao!"

"Because of this matter, I was restless. I made a mistake in the courtyard this morning and angered Zhang Jun, who ordered me to beat him up..."

He felt a little aggrieved, and finally gritted his teeth and said, "Zhang Jun treated me unkindly, don't blame me for being unjust. I will report to the patrol that Zhang Er's wife and son are hiding in Zhang Bo's house!"

After the translation, Chen Ping's forehead was sweating and his palms were cold.

He walked over and whispered to Heifu, "Youjiao, this person's hearsay is untrustworthy! Moreover, even if Zhang Er's wife and son are really in Dongzhang's house, so what?"

"Now the main job of Youjiao is to collect grain for General Wang. If the amount cannot be collected, Youjiao will be punished. On the contrary, Zhang Er's wife only received 20 gold coins, and there is no punishment if she does not get the reward of more than 10,000 coins. If you listen to the servant's one-sided words and bring soldiers to arrest her, even if you finally capture her, how will you deal with it later? At the least, the grain loan discussed today will end in vain! At worst, Youjiao and Zhang will become enemies, and the two sides will quarrel, and eventually the entire Huoyu Township will fall into chaos! Who will benefit from it?"

After speaking, Chen Ping bowed deeply!

"Youjiao, you must distinguish between the primary and the secondary, and put the overall situation first!"

Heifu remained silent for a long time, without saying a word, just looking at the pale moon covered by dark clouds in the sky, and then looking at the Zhang family mansion that almost occupied the entire neighborhood, thinking.

After a while, he sighed and said, "If this person hadn't reported it, I really wouldn't have realized that Zhang Bo, this fat rabbit, not only wants to have three burrows, but also wants a fourth one!"

"While he surrendered to Qin, he also secretly took in Zhang Er's family. Could it be that he was thinking that if Qin couldn't occupy Wei, or if Wei people could restore their country one day, he could rely on this righteous act to change his family and save his family business again?"

After saying that, Hei Fu walked up to the Zhang servant, patted him on the shoulder and praised him, "You did a good job!"

Zhang's servant raised his head in surprise, thinking of the reward he would receive and the revenge for Zhang Bo's beating him, his face was full of smiles.

However, in his expectant eyes, Hei Fu's face suddenly changed, and he scolded: "But you may not know that the Qin law says that if a concubine reports to the master, it is not a public office report, and the officials will not accept it? Although I am stationed alone outside, the Qin law is like a mountain and I dare not violate it!"

After that, Hei Fu ordered Dongmen Bao and Gong Ao: "Capture this traitorous slave, tie him up, and gag him!"

Before he could struggle, the servant was pinned down by two strong men, his hands were tied behind his back, and his mouth was gagged. He was shocked!

Hei Fu turned around and said to Chen Ping, who had not yet reacted: "Let's go, we have to go back to Zhang's house again, and hand this traitorous slave to Zhang Bo in person, and ask him to deal with it himself!"

Chen Ping was shocked and hurried to follow.

At this time, the moon that had been hidden in the dark clouds appeared again, casting a pale moon into the neighborhood.

Chen Ping saw that Hei Fu walked towards Zhang's house as if it was an ordinary visit. He looked normal, but at the corner, he suddenly drew out his sword, checked the tip of the blade, and then put it back into the sheath. He smiled and said, "By the way, help Zhang Bo and let him make a choice between Qin State and those hopeless knights!"

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