The Most Romantic of the Three Kingdoms

Although she had stayed up all night, Xun Zhen had no plans to sleep.

It is not suitable to sleep during the day when I first took office. "Zai Yu went to bed in the daytime, and the Master said: 'You can't carve rotten wood'". If it is spread out, it will definitely be ridiculed. He returned to the South Room, found a robe from the luggage, put it on, and paced to the front yard.

It was still early, many people in the front yard were still sleeping, only Huang Zhong got up and was sweeping the floor with a broom.

"Xun Jun, are you up so early?"

Xun Zhen smiled and said, "Did Huang Gong get up earlier? Come on, I'll help you." He took a pottery basin and turned back to the backyard, drew water from the well, brought it over, and threw it on the ground with his hands. Two people sweep the floor and sprinkle water, and quickly clean the front yard. There was still some water left in the basin, and when Xun Zhen saw that the courtyard door was open, he walked to the door and poured it outside.

At this time, it was not yet bright, and the morning light unfolded in the east, reflecting the mountains and forests in the distance, and the green fields nearby. All the lilies are scattered like stars, scattered in the fields, and occasionally the sound of **** and dogs barking is heard from afar, there is no noise, giving people a feeling of tranquility. There was no one on the pipeline in front of the house, extending north and south, with no end in sight, like a yellow belt, dividing the earth into two halves.

Another morning of the Han Empire, as usual, came quietly.

"'In the eighth and ninth month of high autumn, the white dew turns into frost'. It's going to get cold in this weather." The cool morning wind blew Xun Zhen's robe, and he didn't feel cold, instead he was refreshed.

Huang Zhong said: "Isn't it? The autumn equinox has passed, and it will be cold in two days. Don't look at the noon sun is still poisonous, it is very fast to say that the sky will change."

"Cold dew, cold dew. 'Dou Zhi Xin, will be cold dew'." Xun Zhen raised her head to the north, the sky was already a little bright, and she couldn't find Beidou.

The morning light gradually brightened, and the moonstrings attached to the horizon first turned into a faint touch, and then disappeared. The oriental clouds were brilliant and radiant, and a round of morning sun leaped out of the ground, dyeing the mountains and fields with a bright red color.

Huang Zhu leaned on a broom and stood beside Xun Zhen. The two remained silent for a while, quietly watching this magnificent scene of nature.

When she turned back to the courtyard, Xun Zhen caught a glimpse of the portrait of the wanted criminal hanging on the inner wall of the school. She remembered that she hadn't looked at it carefully. With the idea of ​​doing her job well, she walked over and watched it carefully, thinking, "Xu Zhong killed a man and died. , If you can't catch him, it is estimated that his portrait will be hung here."

The many portraits on the wall were hung at different times, some of them are old, and the ink is blurred; some are very clear.

From the top, Xun Zhen saw that the first person was a native of Runan County, who committed the crime of "robbery", that is, robbers murdered. The world is in turmoil, thieves are swarming everywhere, and most of the fugitives who are wanted are of this type.

The second one is from Nanyang County, and it is still "robbery", but it is not the hands of the criminals, but the instigation of "young people".

According to the law, if the "younger" commits a crime, he will be punished lightly, but the instigator will be given a severe sentence. In the pre-Qin period, criminals like this kind of "instigation to steal and kill" would be punished with one of the harshest punishments: "penalty". During the reign of Emperor Jingdi of the former Han Dynasty, the punishment of drowning was abolished, and the city was abandoned.

The third is still from Nanyang County, who committed "fighting and killing". Fighting means injuring people's lives in a fight or fight. According to the law, it is also subject to abandonment.

And so on, Xun Zhen watched more than a dozen in a row, and most of them committed serious murders, and some were sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment such as "Chengdan, Chung". In addition, he also found a portrait of a "fugitive slave". It is not surprising that a fugitive slave is wanted, but it is a little strange to be placed in the middle of a pile of felons. He asked, "Why is this slave hanging here too? ?"

"This is a runaway slave from the Yangzhai Huang family."

Xun Zhen suddenly understood.

Yangzhai is the county seat of Yingchuan County. The Huang family belongs to the local noble family, and is related to Mrs. Cheng, who is the nurse of today's son. The family has thousands of acres of fertile land, thousands of slaves and servants, countless disciples, and countless guests. County, rampant county, even the prefect must avoid three points. A few years ago, when Chong Fu was the prefect, the Huang family once "seeked to occupy the mountains and lakes". Chong Fu's father was a Situ, and Chong's family is also a wealthy family in Luoyang. Even so, he almost failed to withstand the pressure.

Xun Zhen knew that the troubled times were approaching, and was usually concerned about current affairs, and had heard of it. He nodded clearly and asked again, "I didn't take a closer look when I came the day before yesterday. The court grants amnesty every year, why are there so many escaped prisoners?"

Not to mention, since today's son ascended the throne, from the first year of Jianning to the present, in the thirteen years, except for the three years of Jianning, there is no amnesty, but there will be an amnesty every year.

Huang Zhong replied: "Xunjun also knows that death is usually not within the scope of amnesty." Death is death.

"Desperately dying or not being able to be forgiven, but why are there so many 'Chengdan, Chung' and the like?"

"..., please take a closer look at Xun Jun, those are all from this year."

"This year's?"

Xun Zhen was stunned and speechless. "The reward is in spring and summer, and the punishment is in autumn and winter". The time for amnesty is either spring or summer. This year, the time of amnesty is "summer and April". It is now the beginning of September, only five months and less than half a year. So many wanted criminals again?

He remembered that when he was studying, Xun Qu taught him to read Cui Yu's "Political Theory", which contained a sentence: "The Han Dynasty inherited the Qin system, respecting and not surpassing. It's a lucky meeting, and there are many evils." I didn't know it deeply before, but seeing it with my own eyes today, Fang Jue's words are quite right. Cui Yu only died ten years ago, and his "Political Theory" is all aimed at the evils of the times.

Xun Zhen shook her head and said in her heart, "Too much amnesty from the imperial court is one of the reasons why the common people commit evil, but the more important reason is that mergers are common and the people are struggling to survive." To break the law for no reason?

He looked at a few more portraits, all of which were similar to the ones in front of him. He didn't want to look carefully, and glanced at it. When he was about to leave, he turned back and pointed to the one in the second-to-last row: "Dian Wei?"

Huang Zhong, who has been in the pavilion for many years, knows the information of these wanted criminals like the back of his hand, and replied: "Yes, Dian Wei. Has Xun Jun heard of him? He was just wanted this year."

Xun Zhen was surprised and surprised, and became very interested, thinking: "Is that Dian Wei?" Looking closely, he saw the person's origin and appearance written on the side of the portrait. Face, short beard.

Huang Zhong rambled and said: "Although there are many portraits on the wall, most of them murder and steal, which is not worth mentioning. However, only this Dian Wei and the other two have strange festivals and cannot be regarded as ordinary."

Xun Zhen continued to look at the contents of the picture, but unfortunately there was no specific description of the case committed by Dian Wei, but simply wrote "killed by burglars", and asked Huang Zhong: "What case did he commit?"

"Avenge people."

"Oh? Tell me in detail."

"Don't Xun Jun know? Dian Wei's fellow county Liu Shi, from Xiangyi, had a grudge against Li Yong of Liang Guo's Suiyang. Liu Shi had kindness to Dian Wei, and Dian Wei helped him to avenge him and went to Suiyang from Jiwu. Li Yong had been the county magistrate of Fuchun County, and his home was on guard. Dian Wei drove a car with chickens and wine, pretending to be visiting him, and after deceiving Li's house, he went in with a dagger and killed Li Yong first. Killed Li Yong's wife again."

"How dare you drive a car to the capital of a neighboring country and kill someone at your door?" Jiwu and Xiangyi belong to Chenliu County, Suiyang is the capital of Liang Kingdom, and the two counties (states) border (now both belong to Shangqiu).

Xun Zhen thought to himself: "No wonder it is said that the evil is coming." She asked, "Isn't the Li family heavily guarded? How can he be allowed to kill people wantonly?"

"Although there are many swordsmen in the Li family, they are not as brave as Dian Wei. No one is his opponent, and no one dares to stop him."

"After killing someone?"

"He came out unhurriedly, took the knife and halberd from the car, and left on foot. Li's house was very close to the 'market', and the whole market was frightened by him, and hundreds of people followed him. Behind, but no one dared to approach."

"Just leave like this?"

"Almost so."

Xun Zhen knew Dian Wei and he was brave, but his knowledge of him was limited to novels. He never paid much attention to details, but only paid attention to the plot, so he was completely ignorant of this part of the story. , I was surprised, I couldn't help imagining the scene at that time, thinking that if I changed my own home, I wouldn't have such courage, I thought to myself: "You have to have the courage to go to the sky to dare to travel more than a hundred miles away to kill people. Shocking the capital, it is worthy of the title of 'Evil Comes'!" Thinking of Xu Zhong, he couldn't help comparing, "One killed a butcher in a neighbouring pavilion, another killed an old official in a neighbouring country, the deeds were similar, but he was more courageous, Xu Zhong was still Not as good as Dian Wei."

This is also normal, otherwise he will only hear the name of Dian Wei in future generations, and have no idea who Xu Zhong is?

He asked Huang Zhong: "I don't know where this person escaped to?"

Huang Zhong replied: "Li Yong was once a 400 stone official, and Dian Wei's burglar killed him. The impact of this case is very big. Although Liu's can't help him out of the crime for the time being, this so-called wanted material is only a formality."

"how do I say this?"

"Dian Wei murdered to avenge Liu's family. How could Liu's family just let it go? If Liu's family didn't care, he would be shamed by domestic heroes. According to my estimation, Dian Wei is now hiding in Liu's house. Home. When the wind blows over, it will reappear."

Huang Zhong was right, and Xun Zhen agreed, but he couldn't help but sighed and said, "What a pity, what a pity!"

"What a pity? It's a pity that he escaped from the state law? Xun Jun, just like Shi Juxian said about Xu Zhong, a ranger hero like them, no matter what case they commit, there will always be strong clansmen and the right side vying to hide."

When it comes to "heroes", although Huang Zhong doesn't have the same unabashed admiration as Chen Bao, Cheng Yan, and Shi Juxian, he doesn't mean to disgust him. When the world is simple in temperament and full of courage and enterprising spirit, from the emperor, the princes, to the people of Qianshou, people will call themselves big men at every turn, and they are very admirable for those who have integrity, promise a thousand dollars, and put emphasis on righteousness.

Xun Zhen smiled and said to herself, "Of course I know that Dian Wei will not obey the laws of the country, but it is a pity that he was hidden by the Liu clan, otherwise, he is like a desperate man, Yingchuan is located on the main road, maybe I still have it. If I get a chance to see him, I might even be able to help him."

Not long after the sun rose, it was still early. Maybe it was talking about "heroes". Huang Zhong came to talk and said, "There was a case in Chenliu the year before, and the two brothers fought to death. Does Xunjun know?"

"Brothers fight to the death? But brother Shu Boying?"

"Exactly."

Xun Zhen didn't know about "Dian Wei's revenge for others", because Dian Wei's background was not high and he was not well-known among scholars, but Shu Boying's brothers were Confucian scholars and scholars of Chen Liu, so he had heard of their deeds.

It's easy to say, Shu Boying had a relative and friend who was killed, and his younger brother Shu Zhongying took revenge for it, and was later found out. Like Xu Zhong's case, "thief killing" should be executed, and the two brothers should be executed. They "fight to die" and fight to be punished. The friendship between the brothers moved the county governor and saved them from their sins. After the incident came out, "I think it's a good talk at home."

"My brother avenged his brother, and the brother fought to die for the younger brother. It is indeed a righteous word. Hehe, it's just the person who was killed. No one mentioned it." Thinking of Xu Zhong, Xun Zhen sighed again and said two words. "It's a pity," I thought to myself, "It's a pity that Xu Zhong met Qin Gan, but he didn't meet Chenliu County Governor." In comparison, Xu Zhong killed for his mother's revenge.

"Xun Jun, what's the pity?"

Xun Zhen didn't answer and asked, "You just said that in the portrait on the wall, there are two people who can be side by side with Dian Wei. Who is it?"

Huang Zhong leaned over, quickly found one, pointed and said, "This person counts as one."

Xun Zhen looked at it and saw a young man with a handsome appearance, with his birthplace and name written next to it: "Zang Ba, Hua County, Mount Tai".

"This person's name sounds familiar." Xun Zhen looked at the portrait, but couldn't remember it.

Seeing that his eyes were fixed, Huang Zhong thought he was looking at what case Zang Ba committed, and said, "It's not clear from the portrait. Zang Ba's case is similar to Xu Zhong's, and it was also because of filial piety that he violated the law."

"Oh?"

"Xu Zhong killed for his mother, and Zang Ba killed his father from the prefect."

"Abduct your father?"

"His father was originally a prison rafter in Huaxian County. There was a prisoner in the prison who offended the prefect. The prefect wanted to kill him, but his father refused to obey the order according to the law, so he angered the prefect and ordered him to be arrested. Take it to the county seat."

Prison rafters and prison history are both a system, but the status of prison rafters is higher than that of prison history.

Before Xun Zhen could remember who Zang Ba was, she asked, "What happened later?"

"Zang Ba's family has a lot of fields, and many guests are attached to him, so he gathered dozens of guests, copied the trail, and stopped the team escorting his father in the mountains. There were more than 100 people who escorted his father, but not a single one. Dare to move, and watch him kidnap his father."

The so-called "guests" are peasants who are attached to the powerful landlords. They are loyal to the landlords, and the landlords provide them with political protection and certain economic benefits. At the same time, some big landlords will also compile the guests into "parts", thinking that the family soldiers, every slack season, "repair the five soldiers, Learn to shoot" to prevent thieves. Therefore, it is not surprising that Zang Ba dared to rob the prisoner wagon with dozens of guests, but none of the hundreds of **** officers and soldiers dared to move.

Xun Zhen's mind flashed, and he remembered who Zang Ba was, he seemed to be Cao Cao's subordinate? He exclaimed in surprise, "It was him!"

"Does Xun Jun know this person?"

Xun Zhen asked: "I look at his appearance, he doesn't seem to be very old?"

"Yeah, he did the case the year before, when he was only eighteen years old, and he had not yet been crowned."

Only in a small booth, there are two wanted criminals who will be brave generals in the future.

Xun Zhen was overwhelmed with emotion, and said in his heart: "The times create heroes, and heroes create the times. During the Taiping period, how could Dian Wei and Zang Ba's generation be able to dominate the battlefield? I'm afraid they are at most like rangers, with bad luck, I can't say it, I can't escape the law. . . . If it fell into the hands of a cruel official during the reign of Emperor Wu of the former Han Dynasty, it would not be 'unexplainable', and there would be no doubt of death."

"Who is the other who can be as famous as Dian Wei?"

"He Yong."

Dian Wei and Zang Ba only surprised Xun Zhen, "He Yong" surprised him greatly, and blurted out, "His portrait is also here?"

Dian Wei and Zang Ba only heard their names from later generations, and they were separated by a layer, but He Yong had heard about them from his clan.

He Yong, courtesy name Boqiu, was a native of Nanyang, although he was a junior, but Guo Linzong and other seniors and celebrities were friends with him, and he was very famous in Taixue. Later, due to the party's misfortune, he was implicated because of his friendship with Li Ying and Chen Fan, and was framed by eunuchs, so he changed his name and defected to Runan. All the famous people in Runan compete to get close to him. Yuan Shao admired him very much and kept in touch with him in private, becoming a running friend.

He was outspoken, helped the poor and rescued the emergency, was not afraid of danger, rescued the same kind, and saved many people. Because of the help of him and Yuan Shao and others, the persecuted party members "have been exempted from many", and have a great reputation in Yuzhou and Jingzhou.

During his escape, he had come to Yingyin for the purpose of visiting the Xun family. When he saw the young Xun Yu at the time, he was amazed and praised him as "Wang Zuocai". This allusion is known to all Xuns in Yingyin.

Therefore, as soon as he heard his name, Xun Zhen was very familiar. He also knew that He Yong was wanted, but according to what he heard, He Yong seemed to be nothing, and even went to Luoyang several times. In the past, Xun Zhen thought it was because the wanted people were lax, but now even Benting has his portrait hanging there, it can be seen elsewhere, I really don't know whether to admire his boldness or suspect that the counties around the country are turning a blind eye. one eye. UU reading www.uukanshu.com

Huang Zhong continued: "He Yong studied in Taixue, so Xun Jun naturally knows about him, but does Xun Jun know that he once avenged his friend?"

Xun Zhen nodded. He Yong had already heard from his clansmen about He Yong's revenge for his friend. He Yong had a friend named Yu Weigao, who was seriously ill because of his father's revenge. When He Yong went to visit him, he wept bitterly and was very unwilling. He Yong "felt righteous" and helped him kill his enemy. At this time, Yu Weigao had passed away. He Yong then cut off the head of his enemy and placed it on his tomb to pay homage to him.

Xu Zhong avenged his mother, Dian Wei avenged his benefactor, Shu Zhongying avenged his brother and friend, Xiahou Dun avenged the murder of his teacher, Zang Ba robbed a prison car, and He Yong avenged his friend. These six people are either young men in the countryside, heroes in the city, scholars and scholars, powerful landowners, sons of officials, or famous people in the world, but their behaviors are similar, and they can get people from different classes. admiration and praise.

Xun Zhen sighed: "I know why Gaozu was able to use the post of pavilion chief to make friends with heroes!" At the end of the Qin Dynasty and the former Han Dynasty, the style of the rangers was more prosperous than it is now.

When he looked at the portraits of the people on the wall again, he felt different, and secretly said: "Except for Dian Wei, Zang Ba, and He Yong, I have never heard of other people, but there may not be any like Xu Zhong and Dian Wei. The characters of Zang Ba. Yingchuan is located in the Central Plains, the main traffic road, maybe some of these people have fled here. If I can meet one or two, I will hide them quietly, and wait for the yellow turban to rise. It might not be a help.”

- This is just his idea. Whether someone will escape and be encountered by him, even if he does encounter one, whether it will be useful or not is unknown. However, "being prepared", it is better to have this idea than not having this idea, and at worst, it can relieve his pressure a little and give him a little "slim" hope.