Chapter 202 The Final Truth

Zhang Anshi couldn’t stop smiling.

Is 300,000 taels …… much?

Sure is a lot!

But …… gains are even more amazing!

So Zhang Anshi said, “On this …… or look at that Taifu is more reliable, if you are looking for other Shaoshi, or other Taifu, Shaoshi, and various Tartar princes, maybe 100,000 taels can be finalized. Just I Zhang Anshi do things to be cautious, this Taifu is the first thing to do, and then give money, and other people are not the same. Only we Ming will take you down, he only collects the silver, and the deposit, but only a mere ten thousand taels. I like this kind of real person!”

After a pause, he said in a colorful manner, “Unexpectedly, you think that you enter my Daming, you can demagogue the people, you can demagogue the people, which ever thought …… that the real enemy of Daming is in Nanking City, within my Daming, but you, the Tartar’s lapdogs, how would you think that the Tartar’s enemy, on the other hand, is in the Desert South, also in their internal. ”

“You think you serve Tartar, this Tartar people and you a heart, can ever think, Tartar is not a whole? Here …… are various ministries, each with their own mind, not to mention three hundred thousand taels, even if it is 100,000 taels, 50,000 taels, there are people scrambling, want to sell you.”

Booker: “……”

This scholar’s face, became more and more miserable.

He had thought of the many possibilities for his perceived identity, and almost all of his reflections had been on himself.

For example, if the people they send out are unreliable, or …… if they themselves reveal something.

But the only thing he didn’t realize was that Zhang Anshi had let someone go to the desert, and not only did he go to the desert, but he did the same thing that he was doing now.

Zhang Anshi cheerfully continued: “Not only that! This 300,000 taels, in fact, is not just your life money, your life, in my eyes is not worth the price, I’m called to set up the wood for the letter, is to borrow your head, and other people long-term cooperation, through which to understand the Tartar movement, in the future, it is more for the use of my Daming.”

The scholar’s eyes showed a hint of unwillingness, and he said with a cold face, “Who is this Tai Fu?”

Speaking of the Tartar tai fu, there are really a lot of them, when the Yuan Dynasty entered the Central Plains, with the Han Dynasty’s official position of the big sealing of the official position, what is the tai fu, tai shi, as if do not want to money like a messy hair.

Since then, the North Yuan split into two parts of the Tartar and Warat, in order to pull together the various tribes, almost every tribal leader, either a master or a master, if you are a master, master or something, out of the door to feel ashamed of themselves.

Zhang Anshi was satisfied with the scholar’s expression and smiled, “I won’t tell you.”

“There are only two people who truly know my identity.” The scholar said, “That would be the Tartar Khan and the Imperial Master Alutai. As for the others, they may know some of my whereabouts and identity ……”

At that, he closed his eyes painfully, struggling to remember anything.

Zhang Anshi but looked at him and said, “You do not have to guess, you think know your identity of the people only so two people, but did not think, these two people …… whether they will be drinking, and people talk about some of your things, you think they must keep their mouths shut, but did not think that this Tartar’s upper class nobles, are more or less know some, you feel that leaking your identity is a matter of life and death, but did not think that the two people who know your identity …… but may only think that you are the talk of the town.”

Zhang Anshi smiled, in fact, he knew that the other party was a smart person, a lot of things, just a little bit of it.

It’s just human nature. What does your life and death have to do with your master?

A drink and a little bragging might sell you!

If your masters were so careful with their words, why would they have been driven back to the desert to graze their livestock?

The scholar sighed, “So, you know quite a lot about me, but …… actually only know some generalities.”

By now, Zhang Anshi did not mind frankly: “Yes, that what Tai Fu informed, is that you are not good, often cough, and moved from Desert South to Nanjing City. Oh, also know that you love to wear Confucian clothes …… these Linlin total information, in fact, …… as long as there are these clues, in the end, your whereabouts are exposed, but also just a matter of time.”

The scholar lowered his head and thought bitterly, then he laughed miserably and said, “Three hundred thousand taels, haha, actually just for three hundred thousand taels …… people can be short sighted to such a point! District three hundred thousand taels, then miss me such a person …… I brought for them, more than three hundred thousand taels of silver, can cause losses to the Great Ming, more do not know how many three hundred thousand taels.”

Zhang Anshi laughed: “Reasoning in fact you understand better than me, for this Taifu, he can get 300,000 taels, is to be put into his own home, as for the benefits you bring, in what use is he?”

The scholar froze for a moment, as if waking up all of a sudden, and then sighed and said, “Hey …… you said it well, but it was me …… who was confused for a moment.”

He looked extremely frustrated, and in a way, Zhang Anshi was no less than executing his heart.

Zhu Di sat on the sidelines, listening to their conversation without saying a word, but when he heard 300,000 taels, he still couldn’t help his eyebrows trembling.

Obviously there are cheap hundred thousand eighty thousand can be dispatched …… Zhang Anshi this kid, actually ……

It’s too generous to spend silver.

This is my silver!

Of course, heartache to heartache, Zhu Di is still still not show his face, he knows very well, really, can catch people, not to mention three hundred thousand taels, or five hundred thousand, one million taels, this silver, he also have to bite the bullet and hand over.

It was only Zhang Anshi’s thought process that Zhu Di couldn’t help but admire.

This guy, never go common sense ah, who would have thought, when the rebellious party is increasingly approaching, and constantly give countless difficult problems and kill moves, Zhang Anshi will actually advance to the desert next idle chess?

At this time, Zhang Anshi looked seriously at the scholar and said, “What about you, why do you serve the Tartars?”

For this question, the scholar was calmly said, “My ancestors, for generations, have served Dayuan, this …… still need a reason?”

Zhang Anshi said, “The Tartars entered the Central Plains and scourged the world, and now they have fled the desert in defeat and are as frightened as a lost dog, why, do you still recognize them as the masters now? Have you forgotten that before the Tartars entered the kingdom, you were still a Han Chinese, a Song vassal.”

The scholar, however, shook his head and said, “No, in the time of my ancestors, I was not a Song courtier either; my ancestors, who were both Liao courtiers and Jin courtiers, have since …… become even more Yuan courtiers.”

Zhang Anshi raised his eyebrows and said coldly, “Recognizing a thief as your father?”

The scholar said, “If the An Nan Hou is here to quarrel with me, then …… it seems that now is not the time.”

Zhang Anshi, on the contrary, smiled with it, then his expression eased and said, “Good, you continue.”

The scholar said, “My name is Zhang Xingyuan, my father Zhang Sidao.”

Zhang Anshi was still confused as he listened.

But at this time, Zhu Di, who was sitting on the side, his face changed slightly, then he looked at the scholar fixedly and said with a cold smile, “The descendant of the former Yuan Shihou Zhang Sidao?”

The scribe said dryly, “Yes.”

The so-called Shihou (涓栦警), the earliest date back to the Jin Dynasty, when the Jin people entered the country and, in order to rule, cooperated with the local powerful clans, the most prestigious of which were known as the Nine Dukes!

These nine great clans could set up their own government offices, appoint officials, collect taxes, reward and punish people in their own territories, which could be said to be more powerful than the feudal lords of the Ming Dynasty.

Thereafter, until Mongolia defeated the Jin Dynasty, but the Mongols are few, in order to rule, but also followed the practice of the Jin people, buy the Han people’s landlords armed, this is Zhang Anshi may not know much, and in the early Ming Dynasty, everyone knows the so-called Yuan Dynasty Shihou.

These Han Chinese powerful landlords, the Mongols were sealed as ten thousand households, so that they are divided into all the roads, in the local recruitment of Han people as soldiers, combat, the first wave of the Han army attack, if you can not win, so that the color of the military horses continue to attack strongly, if it is still not able to win, which allows the Mongols to attack.

It can be said that these Shihou, made great achievements for the Yuan Dynasty.

Don’t look at them as just a small ten thousand households, but their strength is disjointed. Maybe into the Yuan Dynasty’s dynasty class, a mere ten thousand households is not worth mentioning.

But once at the local level, their power, however, is almost tantamount to that of an emperor!

Often these jurisdictions have a population of between 30,000 and 60,000 households, and if a household has five members, then it is directly under the jurisdiction of more than 100,000 to 300,000 people, with an area of jurisdiction, as small as a county, and as large as a prefecture, within which they have all the prerogatives of the judiciary, taxation, conscription, and the appointment of local officials.

That is to say, as long as they want, in addition to paying a certain amount of taxes to the Yuan court on time, they can recruit as many soldiers as they want in their own territories, adjust the tax rate to how much they want, and in the judicial proceedings, they can decide whatever they want! Local officials, they appointed and dismissed at will, and did not even have to report to the Yuan court at all. In fact, those Yuan Dynasty rulers were too lazy to care.

The most important thing is that this kind of hereditary marquis, is the ten thousand hereditary, and as to how you hereditary, in fact, it is not like the Han Dynasty treats the vassal king, there will be all sorts of rules of etiquette.

The rulers, who didn’t care if you broke any kingly laws, recognized whoever you said succeeded you to the throne of the Shihou.

When Zhu Yuanzhang’s Northern Expedition was first launched, the most fierce resistance, this Han Shihou was one of them.

For example, in front of this self-proclaimed Zhang Xingyuan’s dad Zhang Sidao, after the Ming army to the north, the resistance is the most active, even far more intense than many Mongols.

Many Mongolians still survive, the Central Plains can not be mixed, the big deal is to go back to the desert. But this Zhang Sidao is not the same, resistance is very fierce, until the situation is gone, even the emperor of the Yuan dynasty to the desert, when Zhu Yuanzhang beckoned to surrender this Zhang Sidao.

Zhang Sidao, however, is ashamed to be a subject of this Ming Dynasty, and directly returned to the mountains and forests.

Zhang Anshi roughly knew the cause and effect and could not help but say, “How many years have you served the Tartars?”

Zhang Xingyuan truthfully said, “It has been more than ten years.”

Zhang Anshi then said, “More than ten years? Then you must have quite a few party members?”

Zhang Xingyuan, however, said, “Everywhere in the world are people who think of Da Yuan; it can be said that everyone is a partisan.”

With these words, directly hearing Zhang Anshi, he couldn’t help but sneer.

Seemingly seeing Zhang Anshi’s disbelief, Zhang Xingyuan said, “My family has been in the land of Yan and Zhao for generations, with countless friends and relatives.”

This kind of Shihou, he is not wrong to say that he has countless old friends.

These earth emperors, in the local intertwined, and these people, it happens to be the most good at educating their children, whether it’s bow and horse, or reading, and illiterate what Zhu thirteen, Zhao nine, Liu twenty-six, and so on the ordinary people, completely different.

That is to say, in itself, these people …… are the objects and talents that each dynasty cages.

Zhang Anshi could not help but say, “That is to say, when your friends and relatives old friends …… have a lot, are willing to serve the Tatars?”

Zhang Xingyuan nodded his head.

Zhang Anshi seemed to think of something, frowned and said, “So you secretly and privately contacted, in which these people, many of them have been no less than to become my Ming civil ministers and military generals, even if they are not civil ministers and military generals, in the local area of the strength, can not be underestimated, is not it?”

Zhang Xingyuan nodded again.

Zhang Anshi said, “The Yuan people are brutal, so you are just willing to be driven by them?”

“But how much better is Daming?” Zhang Xingyuan coughed, then revealed a sneer and said, “People like us who are capable, but Zhu Yuanzhang used the imperial examinations to restrict them, not everyone is interested in reading and learning the four books and the eight stocks. Furthermore, has Zhu Yuanzhang slaughtered fewer people? When Dayuan was around, he never treated his loyal ministers poorly.”

Zhang Anshi’s face went cold and he couldn’t help but raise his voice, “But they slaughtered thousands of people.”

Zhang Xingyuan was noncommittal and only silently looked at Zhang Anshi for half a second.

After half a minute, but sighed and said, “No matter what, a loss is a loss. I have nothing to say ……”

Zhang Anshi said, “Since you are for the Tartars to drive, then let me ask you, why are there such people …… for you to drive? For example, Xu Wen, for example, the right sentinel who is with you today to lead the troops for rebellion ……”

Zhang Xingyuan looked up at Zhang Anshi, said: “They would have been thinking of Danyuan, in Danyuan, their ancestors also do officials, but not like in the general Daming stifled, the so-called officials of the Daming, but they are all officials, the commander of the troops and horses, can not be stained in the slightest, only the right to control! But in Dayuan, they will be a party of vassals, and the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, as long as a displeasure, you can be deposed, or even may come to punishment, in exchange for who, the heart will not harbor resentment?”

After a pause, he added: “Of course, grievances return to grievances …… in fact, there is more than that, the reason why …… there are so many people willing to serve me, the root of the matter is still to be attributed to the Jingdan in the first place! ”

“Pacify?” Zhang Anshi looked puzzled.

Obviously, the answer was unexpected to him.

Zhang Xingyuan quickly stated the reason, saying, “Although I contacted a lot of people in the beginning, but when Zhu Yuanzhang was there, he was on guard against us Shihou and the Mongols, so …… there was hardly any opportunity to lead troops and lead the army. So at that time, what I did, but it was just a daily visit to friends and relatives, and complain with people. But …… Jianwen ascended the throne, and I immediately realized that that Jianwen was dark and weak, far less than Zhu Yuanzhang. It happens that he wants to cut the clan, I think it is a good opportunity to wait until Zhu ……”

Zhu Di sat on the sidelines, endured this guy called his name, but did not have a seizure, he now only want to know the truth, instead, did not easily interrupt Zhang Xingyuan, only quietly listen.

Zhang Xingyuan continued: “Wait until Zhu Di rose up, just the time to use people, so …… I planted a lot of people, into the Yan army. The original intention is to create chaos within the Ming court, and wait for them to kill a few years, by then the Ming will certainly be divided! At that time, we will then enter the Central Plains and regain everything that we had in the beginning. ”

“But …… human calculation is not as good as heaven’s calculation, who could have thought that in just two or three years of work, this Zhu Di killed the city of Nanjing, so that this Ming Dynasty is back to unity.”

He could not help but show the color of regret, to be honest, Zhu Di was really just a small feudal king in Beiping, this little force and manpower, change to do anyone …… feel bound to lose no doubt, even if Zhu Di vigorously out of the miracle, roughly, but also is just a party to cut the whole of the Ming into a long period of civil strife.

Who would have thought that Zhu Di, such a small vassal king, would end up fighting right across the Yangtze River and ending the war quickly!

Zhang Xingyuan then said: “Of course, although these purposes have not been achieved, but also brought us a lot of benefits, that is …… when the original people who entered the Yan army, although they did not make any heavenly achievements, become a public vassal, but at least . …The vast majority of them, however, because of the merit of the dragon, more or less, into the Nanjing, say this Beijing camp right post of the general flower does not Luer. He is the descendant of a Mongolian descender, and as a rule, it is impossible to gain the trust of the Great Ming, or even enter the capital camp and act as a military officer, but it is precisely because of the pacification of the country that he is able to control a party of men and horses.”

Zhu couldn’t help but be moved, he narrowed his eyes, and at this moment, suddenly understood something.

At the time of the original pacification, the military strength was too small, so for anyone willing to follow the pacification, Zhu Di can almost be described as a come-on, so it seems to let people like Zhang Xingyuan take advantage of the situation.

Zhang Anshi said, “So …… you borrowed them to try to kill the king, then what?”

“The matter of regicide ……” in Zhang Xingyuan calmly said, “For us, in fact, there is no benefit, because I am also clear that now the Tartar Department swept the desert several times during the time of Zhu Yuanzhang, and its strength has not yet recovered. Even if there is a civil unrest in the Central Plains, it is actually very difficult to be able to enter the Central Plains within ten or twenty years. Instead of that, it would be better …… for everyone to continue to lurk in various parts of the world and wait for an opportunity to move.”

So Zhang Anshi asked, “If you know, then why did you do it?”

Zhang Xingyuan said, “The reason why the hands, because ……… you have noticed our movements, if you do not notice, each other or can be peaceful, we can afford to wait, wait for the Tartars to unify Mongolia, and then again inside and outside, only to have the hope of restoring the Great Yuan. ”

“Unfortunately …… I know very well, Zhu Di is what kind of person, once he noticed that there is a rebellious party activity, he will definitely try to do everything to chase and fight, sooner or later …… we still may leak the tracks. Want to completely get rid of these, the only way, is to get rid of Zhu Di …… by the way ……”

Speaking here, Zhang Xingyuan looked deeply at Zhang Anshi and then said, “And getting rid of you.”

Zhang Anshi couldn’t help but laugh, “I see …… so you suddenly have so many actions, can be said to be dazzling, and Xu Wen, and planted Ning Wang, and this time …… are actually just a dog jumping over the wall only.”

Zhang Xingyuan sighed, “My life’s work has finally been buried today, so there is nothing to say.”

Zhang Xingyuan then glanced at Zhang Anshi and said with a few sentimental tones, “You are a talented person, I thought I was already extremely smart, but I was ultimately inferior to you. Successful king loses, there is nothing to say now.”

With that, he actually broke into a smile.

It was as if …… was not worried about his next fate.

Instead, he paused and continued, “I am the person who is going to die, you also know …… that I have this disease …… for many days, suffering from this disease, in fact, live and die, there is not much difference, today, although it falls in your Although today fell in your hands, but also not much regret. It is a pity that …… my father before he died, had in mind, the north look forward to the Great Yuan soldiers and horses into the customs, after all can not be accomplished in my hands, but instead, therefore the Yuan gas is greatly injured, really regret.”

Zhu Di finally couldn’t sit still and looked at him grimly, “Is that so? It’s a pity that old thief is dead, if not, if I catch him, I will definitely break his body into pieces.”

Zhang Xingyuan only smiled faintly, “So what? It’s just a matter of showing off your tongue, now …… what do you want me to be tortured for, so let’s get straight to the point ……”

He smiled bitterly, “It’s just that I’m already sick and blind, and I shouldn’t be able to withstand much torture, so I might have to teach you guys to be disappointed.”

Zhang Anshi glanced at Zhu Di.

Zhu Di was obviously furious, so Zhang Anshi said, “What about the directory?”

“Directory?” Zhang Xingyuan looked at Zhang Anshi indifferently.

Zhang Anshi then said, “The directories of those who colluded with you, hand them over and perhaps die a quicker death.”

Zhang Xingyuan, however, shook his head, “What you can’t get, I can’t possibly tell you.”

Zhang Anshi, however, added, “In addition to this, there is your wealth ……”

Zhang Anshi said here, paused, stared at him and said: ”You can be active for so long, I am afraid it is not because of your family lineage! Your Zhang family …… did so many generations of the so-called Shihou, and even in the Jin Dynasty, had cracked the land one side, named Wanhu, but in fact, it is the country in the country, which hundreds of years, exploited how much of the people’s fat and cream, the Mongols so quickly defeated, I think …… you also do not Possible to take so much wealth away, only afraid …… you can make such a big commotion, fixed also hide the tired family business, these …… should not also say?”

Zhang Xingyuan frowned and was silent.

Zhu’s eyes, however, lit up all of a sudden.

Only to see Zhang Anshi then said: “Moreover, I just deliberately talked about three hundred thousand taels of silver, buy Tartar Taifu, I have been observing your expression, he on three hundred thousand taels of silver …… did not have the slightest ripple, and even showed a sneer, from this we can see… …This three hundred thousand taels of silver, in your eyes, is nothing at all, what you find ironic is …… that you yourself even folded in just because of the district three hundred thousand taels. These …… you do not say clearly, do you want to die so easily?”

Zhang Xingyuan pursed his lips, then said, “I’m a smart person, and you’re also a smart person ……”

He paused, raised his head, and looked straight at Zhang Anshi with a hint of fearlessness in his eyes, saying, ”Do you think that I would be willing to talk? I told you long ago that I am the one who is about to die, and how can a person who is about to die possibly let you guys have what you want? So you can t scare me, don t waste your efforts, it is better to hurry to torture, so that you can take out your anger, and the other …… don t have to be delusional.”

Zhu showed some uneasiness.

He knew in his heart, this Xingyuan can rampage for so long, must be a resolute person, unusual methods, certainly useless to him.

Chu stood up and excused himself to the side.

Zhang Anshi would understand, so he also got up and went forward to mutter with Zhu.

Zhu Di said, “This matter is important, it seems not to torture him will not confess, but the unusual criminal law, I am afraid that he can not teach him to open his mouth, whether or not to call Ji Gang to come, this guy …… to do this is still good.”

Zhang Anshi gently shook his head and said, “Your Majesty, this person is seriously ill, Ji Gang’s three-legged kung fu, I’m afraid that the person will be tortured to death before he can even get on it, there are some people that criminal law alone will not be able to destroy their will.”

Zhu Di frowned up, looked worried: ”Just will he broken into pieces, it is really difficult to vent my indignation ah, this guy hides so much silver, and …… there are so many accomplices …… just like this death, it is a pity . How …… about swindling him and giving him the desire to survive?”

Zhang Anshi still shook his head, “Your Majesty, give up, we can not fool him, this person is too smart, he has already divided the situation, absolutely will not believe us, he is not Zhu Yong …….”

Zhu Di’s frown deepened as he said in annoyance, “Then what should be done?”

“In fact …… I have also laid out a hand ……” Zhang Anshi’s gaze was ghostly, subconsciously revealing a thieving smile.

Zhu Di suddenly hit the spirit, busy: “Why not say earlier, show what hand?”

“Need to wait a moment ……” Zhang Anshi with a hint of mystery said: “First this person in custody, other places, I’m afraid that do not rest assured, the ghost knows …… This outside the palace is still safe or not, his party knows that he fell into the net, must be dog anxious to jump over the wall, can not wait to kill immediately, so I suggest, temporarily detain him in the palace, it is best …… to let also lose ha, transfer some of the people of the heart to guard, or …… what about Wei Guo Gong ? Or Ki State Duke and Cheng State Duke also line.”

Zhu Di is a shocking statement: “Why bother, I personally guard, into his mother’s …… me these days, nothing to do, just staring at him, can guarantee foolproof.”

Zhang Anshi couldn’t help but show his admiration, “Your Majesty’s exhaustive efforts and personal endeavors in order to eradicate the chaotic party are really admirable to me.”

Zhu Di’s old face red, with a few unnatural, will look away, then mouth said: ”Palace matters, naturally I come to manage, you do not continue to nagging, hurry up fucking errands to go! Oh, outside the palace to be careful for the top, it is best to let the model battalion day and night with your left and right! I see, these people are very reliable, in short, never let the thieves have the opportunity to take advantage of.”

Zhang Anshi smiled with a few smug smiles and said, “Don’t worry, Your Majesty, when it comes to protecting myself, I am very good at it.”

Zhu Di thought carefully, feel reasonable, this full of people were assassinated, if only one person can survive, then nine times out of ten, may be this Zhang Anshi.

So Zhu said, “In that case, let’s hurry up and do something.”

“Yes!” Zhang Anshi didn’t dare to hesitate, so he rushed out of the palace with fire.