The Great Qin Empire---Qin Li

"Brother!"

In the Dong Zhang residence, Zhang Fu looked at the brightly lit hall, feeling a lingering fear, and then stared at the somewhat distraught Zhang Bo, lowering his voice and scolding: "Why are you so confused? On the one hand, you surrendered to the Qin State, and on the other hand, you dared to take in Zhang Er's wife and son! Isn't this going to bring disaster to the Zhang family!"

Zhang Bo explained somewhat weakly: "Brother, no matter what, the Huang family of Waihuang has a friendship with my family for two generations, and Zhang Er is also a great hero of Weidong. He has always been respectful to our Zhang family, regardless of weddings, weddings, funerals, and he always sends people to pay tribute. I have been friends with him for many years, and we often call each other uncle and nephew. When Waihuang was destroyed, he asked me to take care of his wife. How could I ignore it?"

"So I surrendered to Qin with my whole family because I knew the situation, and took in Zhang Er's wife and son because I was keeping my integrity..."

"You have kept your promise, but now that this matter has been exposed, where will the Zhang family be? Why didn't you discuss it with me in advance?" Zhang Bo was so angry that he stamped his feet. Originally, Zhang Cang was an official in Xianyang. Because of their merits of surrendering, they became the treasurer and the elders one after another. When the old Wei Dynasty was destroyed and the new Qin Dynasty was established, it was a good opportunity for the family to grow and develop. But now, all these efforts have been destroyed by Zhang Bo's "keeping the promise". Zhang Er is now a fugitive that the Qin army focuses on arresting, and even his family members are on the wanted list. Does taking in his wife and children mean that the Huyou Zhang family has become Zhang Er's accomplice and is still obsessed with resisting the Qin State? But he can't help it. Keeping small promises and ignoring the overall situation is the nature of his cousin. Zhang Er may have seen through this point of him, so he entrusted his wife to him in times of crisis. The most dangerous place is often the safest. Zhang Bo surrendered to Qin early and became an official of Qin, so the Qin officials did not expect that Zhang Er's wife and children were still hidden in his home.

Zhang Bo was also very considerate. He hid the two of them in his home for two months, and on the surface, he still seemed to be fine. If it were not for a traitorous slave in Dongzhang who reported it to the Qin officials, even Zhang Fu would have been kept in the dark about this matter.

Zhang Bo still said stubbornly: "They are just staying here temporarily. Chen Yu will soon send someone to pick them up, change their names, and take them to Zhao..."

Zhang Fu sighed: "There is no chance to leave. That Hei Fu is sitting in the hall outside, holding your two biological children and my Zhang Zhong with a sword. Do we have to sacrifice our own children and clansmen to protect Zhang Er's wife and son? Let's think about how to explain to the Qin official first."

As he said this, he also patted his chest with relief: "Fortunately, this Hei Fu is easy to talk to, and Chen Ping is also persuading him. He did not listen to the servant's accusation and lead the soldiers to arrest people, but tied him up and sent him overnight, letting us deal with him ourselves..."

Just now, Hei Fu left and came back, which scared Zhang Bo and Zhang Fu.

He threw the bound servant in front of the two men, and then kept saying something like "According to Qin law, sons sue their parents, servants sue their masters, and officials will not listen to non-official accusations, so they will be taken back and Zhang will deal with it on her own..."

Of course, the two did not understand that "official accusations" and "non-official accusations" are forms of litigation in Qin law. Public accusations are cases in which people accuse others who are not related to them of theft, murder, injury, etc. Qin officials must accept all public accusations and may not refuse to accept them.

"Non-official accusations" refer to children suing their parents, servants suing their masters, etc., and Qin officials generally do not accept all non-official accusations.

This special rule in Qin law became a good excuse for Heifu to let Zhang go without breaking up the relationship between the two parties. He chose to use courtesy first and then force, and let Zhang Bo make up for his previous stupidity.

However, after giving Zhang enough room, Heifu's next words were full of threats.

"Mr. Zhang, this matter is not kept secret enough. Even a small servant knows about it. It is conceivable that there are countless people in the mansion who know about it! I am worried that after tomorrow, there will be a constant stream of people reporting this matter! In Huyou Township, I can still help Mr. Zhang suppress it, but if they report it to Waihuang or Daliang." Hei Fu sneered, "Mr. Zhang, I can't protect you!" As he said that, Hei Fu threw a dagger at the feet of the Zhang brothers and said to them coldly, "Between the Qin officials and the chivalrous and loyal people, the two Zhangs should make a choice quickly!" After that, Hei Fu and his two men held the sons of Zhang Bo and Zhang Fu with swords, threatening the two to deal with Zhang Er's wife and son before dawn! "In this way, firstly, we can stop people from continuing to sue; secondly, we can save the entire Zhang family, as well as Zihu's official position far away in Xianyang, so that he does not have to be punished; thirdly, I can also report to the superiors..."

Now, the unlucky servant had long been beaten to death by the Zhang brothers and buried under a tree in the backyard, but when it came to "dealing with" Zhang Er's wife and son, Zhang Bo was hesitant.

Zhang Fu knew that time was not waiting for anyone. After looking at the time, he was rarely ruthless and said to Zhang Bo: "The lives of the entire Zhang family and the rise and fall of the clan all depend on this. My brother, you must make a decision!"

Zhang Bo was of course aware of his current situation. The Zhang family had been tied to the Qin State. Seeing that Daliang was getting more and more precarious, and Taoqiu and other places were successively occupied by the Qin army, they were just small local tyrants and would never rebel again.

So, there was only one choice, that was to kill Zhang Er's wife and son and hand the bodies to Hei Fu to take over!

Zhang Bo, who had been strong for half his life, suddenly became cowardly at this moment. He was unable to give orders and even asked someone to go to the hall to ask Heifu: "Can the Qin soldiers take action?"

After a while, Chen Ping replied on Heifu's orders, saying lightly: "This matter was caused by Zhang Shefu, and Zhang Shefu should personally order the end, so as to prove to the patrol that Zhang's heart is towards Qin..."

"If Zhang Jun really can't do it, he can directly hand over Zhang Er's wife and children to the patrol, but in that case, the patrol cannot guarantee that when Zhang Er's wife goes to the upper official, she will confess that Huyou Zhang had taken them in and sheltered them..."

After speaking, Chen Ping bowed heavily and left.

"What a cruel Qin man!" Zhang Bo cursed: "He doesn't want to dirty his hands, so why should I? He wants my family to be completely enemies with Zhang Er, cut off all escape routes, and serve Qin wholeheartedly!"

Although he cursed, Zhang Bo had no choice when the time came. Between the lives of his children, the future of his family, and "faith and loyalty", he still chose the former.

Under Zhang Fu's urging, he could only wave his hands helplessly, and let the two servants who were loyal to the Zhang family hold sharp knives and follow him to the most mysterious courtyard and knock on the door...

...

It was already the middle of the night, and the courtyard was dark, but soon, the door opened, and the old woman who was arranged by Zhang Bo to take care of Zhang Er's wife and children opened the door while cursing in a low voice.

"Who is it?"

"It's me..."

Seeing that it was the master who came in person in the middle of the night, the old woman hurriedly stepped back and saluted. When she looked up, she saw two servants holding swords following closely behind her, which frightened her to death.

After hearing the sound, Huang Shi inside also hurriedly put on her clothes and walked out of the inner room. She was over 30 years old, but her charm was still the same as before, with curved eyebrows, beautiful eyes, and delicate skin. She was worthy of being the most beautiful woman in Waihuang. She was wearing a two-color skirt, which was long and trailing on the ground. She was graceful and graceful, with long black hair hanging behind her. Because of the cool night wind, she was also wearing a red deep dress outside, which was particularly dazzling under the moonlight.

"It turned out to be my uncle."

After seeing that it was Zhang Bo, Huang Shi respectfully bowed to him, kneeled solemnly and slowly, and bowed her head, but when she looked up, she saw Zhang Bo's bitter face and two servants holding swords on his left and right.

Huang Shi understood something at once, and her face instantly turned as pale as the moonlight.

"Niece... No, Madam Zhang, the truth has been revealed. I, I really can't protect you and your son..."

Zhang Bo had no face to say anything else, so he could only bow his head and sigh.

After a dizzy spell, Huang Shi regained her footing. She grabbed the collar of her clothes and said with difficulty: "I have followed my husband for nine years, and I often dream of swords and swords. I have long expected such a day..."

She raised her eyes and asked: "May I ask, uncle, are the Qin officials chasing us?"

Zhang Bo nodded.

She twisted her hands and said: "Can I survive this time?"

Zhang Bo shook his head.

Huang Shi nodded without saying anything, then turned around and looked at the half-open door. Her and Zhang Er's son was less than eight years old, and was sleeping soundly inside at the moment, unaware of what was happening outside that would determine his fate.

Huang seemed to have made up her mind. She raised her hands to her eyebrows, knelt on her knees, and bowed her head to the ground for a long time. She performed the most solemn Ji Shou ceremony to Zhang Bo...

Zhang Bo quickly avoided it and said with shame: "I am ashamed to accept this ceremony."

"Uncle deserves it! When Waihuang was destroyed, my uncle took me and my daughter in for two months because of our friendship. During this period, we were provided with food and clothing. Only then could my mother and son spend a peaceful time in this chaotic world."

"Now that the Qin officials are approaching, I think my uncle must hand me and my son over, but he is afraid that I will not be able to withstand the torture and say something I shouldn't say, which will implicate Zhang. So when he hands me over, I must be a corpse... Is that right?"

Zhang Bo turned his head away. Although he was unwilling to admit it, this was what he planned to do.

Huang bowed her head again: "But Ao'er is only seven years old and does not know the world. No matter how cruel the Qin officials are, they will not torture him and ask a confession from a child. I hope that my uncle will spare Ao'er's life for the sake of the friendship between the two families!"

She raised her head, tears in her eyes, and said: "His father has been wandering for half his life. He is now nearly forty years old. It is unknown whether he is alive or dead. Even if he survives, it is unknown whether he will have an heir in the future. Zhang Ao is his only flesh and blood! The Qin people arrested my mother and me to force him to surrender. Zhang Ao's crime is not punishable by death. Even if he goes to Qin as a slave or a servant, he can at least leave a descendant for his father..."

"I am willing to die in exchange for Zhang Ao's life. I hope my uncle will allow me!"

Huang's words were sincere and Zhang Bo was extremely ashamed. At this moment, his heart softened and he nodded.

Huang was overjoyed and bowed his head three times, and then backed back into the house.

She lifted the thin gauze curtain, walked to the bed, gently stroked the child's hairline, revealed a soft smile, and left a last kiss on his cheek, with a few tears on it.

Finally, when Zhang Ao was in a daze and opened his mouth to murmur looking for his mother, Huang forced herself to leave.

She walked out of the room and looked back at the child's figure on the bed reluctantly. Tears were streaming down her face, but she was still cruel. She closed the door with both hands, and stood on the steps, pulling out the short blade that Zhang Er gave her for self-defense.

Huang's eyes were determined, and she slowly raised the short blade, raised it over her chest, and raised it to her slender neck...

Seeing this scene, Zhang Bo burst into tears. This bloated old man in his fifties actually knelt down and kowtowed to Huang.

The dagger in his hand slipped, making a tinkling sound...

The body was on the steps.

The moonlight was pale.

The deep red robe...

...

Accompanied by the howling of children in the backyard, Heifu and his men finally waited for the result of Zhang's treatment.

Zhang Bo walked in front with a gloomy face. His two servants wrapped a bloody corpse in a large roll of white silk cloth and slowly walked to the hall before putting it down.

In front of Heifu and his men was a female corpse with a peaceful face...

"Is this really Zhang Er's wife Huang?" Heifu was a little skeptical.

"I have already done the matter. As for whether you believe it or not, it depends on you." Zhang Bo stared at Heifu, his eyes full of regret.

Zhang Fu hurriedly pulled his cousin's sleeve, and also came over to take a look, and bowed his hands and said: "Nine years ago, Zhang Er married Huang and invited my two brothers. This is indeed Huang, no doubt!"

"Where is Zhang Er's son, Zhang Ao?" Chen Ping took a look and saw that there was only one corpse. He couldn't help asking. He was very concerned about this.

Zhang Bo said coldly: "A seven-year-old child, what does he know? I am reluctant to kill him. The person is in the backyard, and the patrol can take him to the superiors. If both mother and child are killed, I am afraid that they cannot be used to force Zhang Er to surrender." Although the words are unpleasant, it can be heard that Zhang Bo hopes Hei Fu can spare the child's life. Chen Ping shook his head disapprovingly, but in front of the Zhang brothers, he was hesitant to speak. Hei Fu laughed, put away the sword that had been pressed in his hand, released Zhang Bo's son, and said: "Since Zhang Shaofu doesn't care about the child's nonsense, why should I care? Second and third sons, take the corpse and the child and return to the camp!" He knew that he was playing the role of a "bad guy" through and through today. But Hei Fu was also helpless. The superiors ordered to arrest the mother and child, but they were hiding in Zhang Cang's uncle's house. Heifu couldn't destroy Zhang just to fulfill the wanted order. That would not only fail to complete the grain collection task, disrupt the order of the village, but also make enemies with Zhang Cang who was far away in Xianyang. He was the only person he knew who had the potential to be a scientist. Just to catch Zhang Er's wife and son and get the reward of tens of thousands of yuan? It's not worth it.

But Heifu couldn't just let it go, because this matter couldn't be concealed. If someone went to Waihuang and Daliang to complain afterwards, not only would Zhang be blamed, but he himself would also be involved. A charge of sheltering would be inevitable.

After thinking about it, he still forced Zhang to do it himself, kill Zhang Er's wife and son, and leave the body outside, saying that Zhang and himself had captured and killed them together, so that this matter could be concluded and Zhang could be saved.

Although Zhang Bo killed the elder and spared the younger in the end, it was not a big deal.

When leaving Zhang's house, unlike Zhang Fu and Zhang's children who smiled and thanked Hei Fu for "showing mercy", the old and bloated Zhang Bo had no strength to walk after tonight's attack. He was carried by several servants weakly, looked at Hei Fu steadily, and suddenly said: "Hei Fu, I won't thank you. You did something unjust to me today, and I will hate you!" "Shut up!" Zhang Fu scolded hurriedly, and then smiled: "You Jiao, don't worry. I know your difficulties. Zhang will remember You Jiao's kindness. I will also write a letter to Zi Hu in Xianyang to tell him the truth..." Hei Fu shook his head and said that he didn't care. He didn't need to care about this bloated old man who was straightforward but didn't have the courage to resist. It looked like Zhang Bo might not live long. Hei Fu asked Dongmen Bao to carry Zhang Ao, who was struggling and crying for his mother, on his shoulders. As they walked through the neighborhood, he thought, "Yes, Zhang Bo, you will hate me. For five or ten years, you will carry this hatred with you into your coffin. But the Zhang clan and Zhang Cang who is far away in Xianyang will thank me! Thank me for saving you!"