Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 322 You're probably tired of living today!
The newly appointed Pacification Commissioner of the Two Routes of Jingdong, Liu Yu, wanted to meet with Li Hang, which was not difficult.

Li Hangren was working at the Foundation's office when he received the summons. How could he not rush to see him?
Upon arriving at Lord Liu's lodging, he bowed deeply and greeted him, saying, "Greetings, Lord Liu!"

The place where Liu Xianggong stayed was Mengniang Zhengdian. Now, Mengniang Zhengdian is no longer what it used to be. It was the most elegant place in Jingdong.

Liu Yu smiled and said, "No need for formalities, please sit down. The Li family of Jingdong, they were once disciples of the great scholar Su, a distinguished family among scholars!"

As Li Hang took his seat, he repeatedly cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "Please forgive my poor learning. It's just that we are not well-versed in our studies, which has disgraced our ancestors and, moreover, the name of the great scholar Su!"

"What are you saying?" Liu Yu waved his hand and said, "Yi'an Jushi is known throughout the world, how could she be disgracing our family name?"

Li Hang gave an awkward smile: "It is my own incompetence, but my elder sister... comes from a family with profound learning, it's just a pity that she didn't give birth to a son..."

After a few words, Liu Yu seemed to understand something and laughed, "Studying and advancing in the imperial examinations is just for the purpose of becoming an official. Who says you have to pass the imperial examinations to become an official? Some people rise to power through hereditary privilege and can become prime ministers. Take Liang Shi, the prime minister during the reign of Emperor Renzong, for example. Didn't he also rise through hereditary privilege?"

Li Hang waved his hands repeatedly: "That's incomparable. Although Prime Minister Liang rose through the ranks due to his family's influence, he still managed to obtain an official position and pass the imperial examination. I don't have that kind of ability..."

"Oh? Is that so?" Liu Yu was somewhat embarrassed, then after a moment's thought, he added, "Then let's talk about Lord Lü Duan..."

“Those were all things from the founding years of the nation…” Li Hang also smiled.

Liu Yu felt awkward again and laughed, "Hey, we were just talking about these things. I wonder if you have any intention of entering officialdom?"

Li Hang simply waved his hand: "I hadn't thought of that..."

Liu Yu didn't believe him, thinking Li Hang was just being hypocritical. If he didn't care about these things, why would he be so close to Su Wu? So he said, "How could you not care about these things? After all, your Li family is a scholarly family, and you associate with learned scholars. Now that the new emperor has ascended the throne, it is a time when people are in need. The Li family has a deep family tradition of learning, which is exactly the kind of talent His Majesty is looking for. It is only a matter of time before they are granted official positions through hereditary privilege!"

How could Li Hang not understand? This was an offer to make him an official; it was like a pie falling from the sky. This pie was a deal, and the target of this deal was none other than Su Wu.

Li Hang sighed and said, "As for hereditary privileges, someone has already taken care of it a long time ago. My uncle sent someone to talk about it before, and later Mr. Zhao also sent someone to inquire. I really don't want to be an official. Being an official is too tiring. Superiors are hard to serve, and prefectures and counties are hard to manage. It's better to stay at home and be a wealthy old man. I can also see how my descendants are doing. If they study hard in the future, then it's up to them..."

Liu Yu's expression immediately darkened. He turned around and looked Li Hang up and down, somewhat confused...

what happened?

Not seeking officialdom? Then what is it you seek?
money?

Would a family like this lack money?
Looking at Li Hang, he didn't seem like that kind of foolish and stupid person...

Liu Yu's expression shifted several times before he asked, "Let's be frank and speak openly. What benefits did Su Wu promise your Li family? Don't misunderstand, this isn't meant as an accusation, I'm just asking about this matter. If so, I'll reciprocate with even greater promises!"

This blunt statement immediately put Li Hang in a difficult position. He had originally intended to laugh it off and say a few polite words to let the matter drop, but he hadn't expected Liu Yu to be so direct.

This is why Liu Yu appeared so confident.

Li Hang thought for a moment, then spoke frankly: "Lord Liu, you may not know this, but the Li family in Jingdong has truly declined and can no longer be considered a truly prestigious family. As you can see, in my generation, there are only my elder sister and me. My elder sister is just a woman, and I am unambitious and have no drive for advancement. We are not lacking in money, but I am not good at being an official. I understand what you mean, Lord Liu. If you really want to ask about this matter, you should ask the gentlemen of the Zhao family. Perhaps they have something to discuss with you... If I have any descendants who are not bad in the future, I will definitely come back to ask you for your help!"

Some of it is the truth, but not entirely.

Liu Yu then looked Li Hang over again, analyzing the truth or falsehood in Li Hang's words.

Li Hang continued, "To be honest, the only power my Li family can rely on now is my maternal uncle's family. They usually help me out, but I'm just a hopeless case, there's nothing I can do about it..."

After much deliberation, Liu Yu concluded that it didn't seem like a lie. The Li family had indeed declined, but his maternal uncle's family still had some influence. The Li and Zhao families were related by marriage, and besides, Zhao Mingcheng was dead...

Li Hang was quite straightforward.

Liu Yu then asked again, "So what kind of work have you been doing for Su Wu lately?"

I'm asking you directly.

“Some business dealings!” Li Hang replied.

"Then can this business be stopped?" Liu Yu clearly didn't know the details.

Li Hang shook his head repeatedly: "I can't listen to that. My family has hundreds of thousands of strings of cash invested in it, along with the capital of some relatives and friends. It adds up to more than a million strings of cash. If we really want to stop, we can only stop after we've recouped our investment! How about it, Master Liu, you think of a way to make up for my investment? I'll just transfer the business to you, Master Liu."

Liu Yu was taken aback and subconsciously asked, "How big of a deal is this? It requires so much capital?"

“This is a big deal. If you want to know more, Mr. Liu, I will bring a few managers to give you a detailed report tomorrow…” Li Hang was certainly a shrewd man.

Liu Yu waved his hand and said, "No need for that. It's just some things related to the war!"

Liu Yu could also guess. If it were truly a business transaction, where could such a large deal exist? If it were really of this scale, wouldn't it be related to the hundreds of thousands of troops in Jingdong? Things like provisions and clothing…

"That's true!" Li Hang didn't explain further, let alone mention anything about opening mines or setting up large workshops.

Liu Yu suddenly said, "But this matter still needs to be stopped! This is not something you can bear the responsibility for!"

Li Hang asked, "What's the big deal? Can't we even do business?"

Liu Yu said with a serious expression, "That will not do. This is a matter of imperial authority, and it is the Emperor's will. You cannot do business with Su Wu!"

Liu Yu clearly knew why he had come. Since it concerned Su Wu's logistics, which was the foundation of Su Wu's military leadership, he had to find a way to obstruct it and truly undermine Su Wu's foundation. If this matter was handled well, he would gain great merit in front of Prime Minister Geng and the Emperor!

"That's fine then. If you can find a way to make up for our losses, then we won't do this business!" Li Hang still wanted to stall and delay.

Liu Yu's face hardened, and his tone became firm: "If you say stop, then stop. The affairs of the emperor are not something you can procrastinate on."

Liu Yu didn't have hundreds of thousands of strings of cash to make up the difference, and the imperial court had no money either, let alone the funds to allocate.

Li Hang finally understood: they weren't there to cause trouble, they wanted Su Wu dead!

This……

Li Hang's expression shifted between light and dark. While others were fighting to the death against the Jurchens in Yanyun, the people behind them wanted them dead!
Li Hang then asked, "What's the logic behind this?"

Liu Yu immediately said, "Just do as I say. If Prime Minister Geng is satisfied, the Emperor will be satisfied, and you'll reap the rewards in the future! Once this matter is settled, you'll be in the Emperor's favor, and with Prime Minister Geng's support, how could you not earn back this capital of over a million strings of cash in the future!"

Li Hang stood up, finally unable to bear it any longer, and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect: "I'm afraid I cannot comply!"

"Huh?" Liu Yu was very puzzled. He couldn't understand how Li Hang, who didn't seem stupid, could do something stupid.

I can't understand Li Hang's thought process. This is a chance to rise to the top in one step, so why doesn't he take it?

"What do you mean by this?" Liu Yu asked, puzzled.

Li Hang stood up straight and said, "Lord Su fought to the death in Yanyun, while we were handling logistics and supplies in the rear. Why does the court want to cut off Lord Su's food supply? What kind of logic is this? They say it's the will of the Emperor and the Prime Minister, but that's really strange. Are they colluding with foreign countries? Is there such a strange thing in the world?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Liu Yu was also displeased.

Li Hang then said, "I thought I had misheard. So it was I who was talking nonsense, not Lord Liu?"

Is Li Hang the type to swallow his anger? A man who is too lazy to be an official, who is incorruptible and can usually maintain a respectable image, is now truly enraged!
Liu Yu simply slapped the armrest of the grand chair, stood up, pointed a finger, and rebuked, "Are you going to disobey the imperial decree?"

"Disobeying the imperial decree? Then I'll trouble you, Minister Liu, to produce the imperial decree for me to see! My Li family has been loyal and righteous for generations. We will go through fire and water for the benefit of the country, but we will never betray our country and our master. Minister Liu, you wouldn't happen to be a spy for the Jurchens, would you?"

As Li Hang spoke faster and faster, his anger grew. How could those assets be more than a million strings of cash? Which of the two gateways to Jingdong wasn't involved? Saying it was more than a million strings of cash was just something Li Hang said among his relatives and friends, and he was keeping it to himself so as not to frighten this Minister Liu.

Can this matter be stopped so easily?
Li Hang is now truly the person in charge of the fund. If Li Hang nods here today, when he turns back, won't he be devoured alive?
If Li Hang can be indifferent to hundreds of thousands of strings of cash, how could others not care?
This is all about interests, let alone personal feelings. Su Wu's years in Jingdong have been remarkable, so who is Liu Yu?

Although it is said that a new emperor brings a new court, Li Hang did not hold an official position. Even if he did, what difference would it make? This Song Dynasty does not belong solely to the Zhao family; it also belongs to all the scholars and officials of the land. Whose words are these, "sharing the world with the scholars and officials"?
One more thing: if Li Hang were truly an official, wouldn't he have spoken frankly to the emperor at this moment when faced with this situation?
Could the emperor really kill someone?
Has the world really changed?

Li Hang's words were truly harsh, stripping them of all dignity. Whom does the Li family of Jingdong really fear? Why would they fear someone surnamed Liu?

Liu Yu was furious when he was scolded in person: "Li Hang, what do you mean by this? How dare you attack me? I think you're asking for trouble!"

Li Hang was also furious. He waved his sleeve and cursed in his heart that Li Hang was being ungrateful. He said aloud, "Then I'll try drinking this penalty cup!"

With that, Li Hang turned and left. He refused to believe that in Jingdong, how could he possibly accept this punishment? Could he really be expected to trespass and rob someone?

Li Hang hurried out, not lingering for a moment, his nostrils flaring with anger, cursing even more in his heart: "Damn it, he's gone mad!"

Li Hang couldn't understand Liu Yu, and Liu Yu couldn't understand Li Hang either. Liu Yu was also very angry, shouting repeatedly, "Rebellion! Rebellion! There are really traitors in Jingdong!"

Li Hang had already walked a few steps away, but he had heard the conversation and was now quite engrossed in it. Could the Li family really be rebels? Let's see how Liu Yu fabricates this story; what a joke!

The Li family in Shandong had been renowned scholars for generations. Their great-grandfather was a student of the former prime minister Han Qi, and their father was a student of the great scholar Su. Such a family, with impeccable lineage and a scholarly tradition, could not be accused of being rebels no matter how much they fabricated the story!
If the Li family of Shandong were truly rebels, then the world would be in a strange state!

Once Li Hang had disappeared from sight, Liu Yu was still fuming. He thought to himself, "This hothead really needs to be taught a lesson. Otherwise, how can we carry out the work?"
Liu Yu muttered to himself, "I never imagined Su Wu wielded such power in the Jingdong region! I must report this to the court immediately..."

He thought that once the handover was clear at the yamen tomorrow, he would make an example of Li by killing her as a warning to others.
Waiting one night won't hurt!
Meanwhile, Li Hang stormed home and met with Sister Li, explaining what had happened.

Sister Li was furious and started cursing, "The court is full of treacherous officials, and treacherous officials are running rampant!" "I've also heard that this Liu Yu is Geng Nanzhong's student!" Li Hang said.

"That Geng Nanzhong is a treacherous villain! He must be jealous and afraid that Su Ziqing will compete with him for power in the future, so he framed loyal officials behind their backs. This kind of person is a damned scoundrel and deserves to die a horrible death!" In this Song Dynasty, who can out-curse Sister Li?
"Sister, it seems that this person's arrival in Jingdong is truly a desperate attempt to undermine Ziqing's cause, aiming to cause Ziqing to suffer a defeat in battle and be punished. What should we do?"

Li Hang was already extremely anxious.

"What's so difficult about that? They're shameless, so let's see just how thick-skinned they really are. As for you, tomorrow go and tell the scholars of Jingdong about what happened tonight, and you'll find common ground in their hatred!"

Li Qingzhao's words were enough to make her disappear.

Li Hang immediately asked, "And what about you, sister?"

"Hmph!" Li Qingzhao was as arrogant as could be at this moment, and said again, "I will just write a poem and send it to Tokyo. I know that Geng Nanzhong is a treacherous official, and the emperor is probably among them. What they are worried about is that Su Ziqing has a large army at his disposal and can do whatever he wants. What are they afraid of? I will curse them for what they want!"

"Huh?" Li Hang was a little stunned. Was this something he could scold?
Li Qingzhao rose quickly, went to the desk, where she found ink, and wrote: "The two Han dynasties were a continuation of the dynasty, but the Xin dynasty was like a superfluous growth. Therefore, Ji Kang, even in death, despised the Yin and Zhou dynasties."

The meaning of the four lines is actually very simple: the Han Dynasty was fine until Wang Mang usurped the throne and established the Xin Dynasty. This Xin Dynasty of Wang Mang was a burden, a tumor, and a cancer.

Ji Kang was originally a minister of Cao Wei. His friend Shan Tao not only served as an official for the usurper Sima family, but also recommended Ji Kang to serve as an official for the Sima family as well. Ji Kang broke off relations with Shan Tao and died in contempt for the Yin and Zhou dynasties. This is the story behind the letter in which Ji Kang broke off relations with Shan Tao.

What are they criticizing? They're criticizing those who obtained the country illegitimately!
This poem was originally written by Li Qingzhao after the Jingkang Incident to criticize the false Chu and false Qi states. Now, written in this way, it is clear that Li Qingzhao is satirizing Zhao Huan.

It's quite a coincidence that Liu Yu, the newly appointed Pacification Commissioner of the two routes in Jingdong, had historically killed his own general Guan Sheng in Shandong and surrendered to the Jurchens. Then, Liu Yu became the emperor of the pseudo-Qi!
Upon hearing these four sentences, Li Hang, who was standing to the side, was stunned. He knew that his older sister was bold and had a bad temper, but he really did not expect her to be this bold.

"Isn't this a bad idea?" Li Hang said blankly.

"Is war a game? What battle defeat and punishment? They've already gone to such lengths to kill Su Ziqing! Will they all be alright if Su Ziqing dies? Hundreds of thousands of troops in Yan, Yun, Hebei, and Beijing have suffered repeated defeats. Who can stop them? Don't they know that the Song Dynasty can only rely on one military force? They're all courting death. Just moments ago, barbarians were attacking the capital, and now they've already forgotten about it? If this is the kind of emperor they have, they might as well replace him with the retired emperor! The retired emperor may have many faults, but at least he wouldn't do such a thing! Aren't they just worried that Su Wu might try to betray the dynasty? Since he's going to die anyway, I think it's better if he does!"

Sister Li has an unusually bad temper! And she's really impulsive!

Perhaps it is because of the current situation that the Zhao and Li families, the power of JD.com, and the abilities of Su Wu all inspire immense confidence.

It's inevitable that in the Yan, Yun, Hebei, and Beijing area, hundreds of thousands of troops are as fragile as paper. Once Su Wu enters the fray, he wins one victory after another. There's been a lot of news lately: Su Wu won in Hejian, in Xiongzhou, in Zhuozhou, and I heard he won again in Yanjing...

Half of the country was restored thanks to Su Wu, yet the court has gone mad!
After listening to Sister Li's long and passionate speech, Li Hang said, "Then so be it! Restoring order is our duty!"

With that, Li Hang walked towards the door: "Why wait until tomorrow? I'll go out and about tonight!"

"Okay, go quickly!" Sister Li waved her hand, feeling a strange sense of responsibility on her shoulders today!

Sister Li also came out. JD.com is in a great situation, people are united, and the battle is won. Even its own little brother is doing well. How can it be ruined by a petty person?
As soon as he stepped out, he summoned someone to make multiple copies of the four lines of poetry, seal them, and send them to the capital. Since it was a new work by Li Qingzhao, there were plenty of ways to distribute it—through theaters, brothels, high-rise buildings, street tabloids, or even through members of the Wang family, or even through old friends with whom he had shared literary knowledge…

Sister Li is the biggest self-media of this era! The so-called way of poetry is actually the way of self-media.

Li Hang was busy, and after a night, Liu Xiangong got up early in the morning and went to the Xuanfu Si Yamen (military commissioner's office) to hand over the duties.

Cheng Wanli was helpless. He wasn't the kind of person who had the means to do things. Although he had some private arrangements and instructions, he didn't dare to disobey the imperial decree on the surface. He simply handed over the reins as he pleased.

From then on, this government office became Liu Yu's government office.

Once Liu Yu held power, he issued orders, and all officials and military generals had to be summoned to meet him.

Before long, the civil and military officials in the yamen were gathered together.

Liu Yu looked left and right, displaying a commanding presence, and said, "Fellow colleagues, I am new here and know little about the affairs of the two routes in Jingdong. I hope you will all lend me your assistance!"

The numerous officials all bowed politely, which was respectable enough...

Then Liu Yu spoke up: "I have heard that many affairs in the Jingdong army are handled by merchants, allowing them to make a fortune. This is not right. I will personally take charge to save on the government's expenses!"

These words were meant to be a challenge, but everyone in the room frowned, and the generals, Huyan Zhuo, and others all looked puzzled.

Zong Ze immediately spoke up: "Lord Liu, this is not appropriate!"

How could Liu Yu not be furious? "What's wrong with it? The budget is all made from the people's hard-earned money; how can we not be frugal?"

"My lord, please forgive me. We are currently engaged in a great war, and we must not make any rash changes to prevent chaos. This involves the vital interests of our nation and its people. We should do what we can first and prioritize stability. If any changes are necessary, they should be made after the war has been settled!"

Zong Ze answered seriously, nodding in agreement. This crucial point must not be changed or altered haphazardly. Everything is still running smoothly, so it must be maintained. Otherwise, if chaos breaks out, wouldn't the Jingdong army on the front lines be doomed?
Seeing everyone nodding in agreement, Liu Yu raised his voice even higher and said, "I am the Pacification Commissioner. My words are the orders of both routes. What is the meaning of your disobedience? Are you also disobeying the imperial decree?"

Zong Ze was not like Cheng Wanli, who simply said, "The affairs of Xuanfu Division and the prefectures and counties are usually fine, but at this moment, we are in the midst of a major battle with the Jurchens, and we cannot make any changes! Whether it is transporting money or grain, especially armor, arrows, and military equipment, there must be no changes whatsoever!"

"Hey? What do you mean by this?" Liu Yu questioned Zong Ze.

“I am not trying to contradict Lord Liu, but this matter is of great importance. Lord Liu should not act unilaterally. He should also consult with the civil and military officials and see what they think is the best course of action!” Zong Ze looked down.

General Fan Yun immediately spoke up: "I think what Prime Minister Zong said is correct. We should prioritize the war. Right now, Hebei and Yanyun are in complete chaos, but only Jingdong has remained stable. We cannot afford to lose any supplies, such as money, food, armor, weapons, and arrows, at the front line!"

"Yeah yeah……"

"Yes……"

He just kept nodding to both sides.

For a moment, Liu Yu seemed to be held back. Looking around, he realized that the new official's three attempts to make a name for himself had already been extinguished.

Will that work?

Liu Yu retorted, "I am entrusted with the Emperor's mandate and am the Emperor's hope. What is the reason for you to disobey your superior?"

Zong Ze turned his head and glanced at Fan Yun.

Fan Yun stood up abruptly: "Lord Liu, can you bear the responsibility for any failure in this great battle?"

Zong Ze added, "Yes, if we really have to make changes, and the war goes wrong, I'm afraid Minister Liu won't be able to bear the consequences!"

How could Zong Ze not understand the difficulties Liu Yu was facing at this moment? He had a long talk with Cheng Wanli last night, and it was time for Zong Ze to step forward.

"I can handle this myself, you just need to follow my orders!" Liu Yu said.

Zong Ze could no longer contain himself and said with a dark face, "This humble official advises Minister Liu not to act rashly!"

"What? Are you planning a rebellion?" Liu Yu was genuinely puzzled. Why was the officialdom in Jingdong no longer the Song Dynasty? Why was it so different from other places?
A prefect of Dongping has gone mad? And what about those military officers...?

Cheng Wanli was not present, but Cheng Hao, the judge, was there, and he was already at ease.

Zong Ze understood perfectly well that Liu Yu had come to cause trouble. The things happening in Tokyo were truly laughable, and he couldn't bear it any longer. He simply waved his hand and said, "That's enough. Let's leave it at that for today!"

As he spoke, Zong Ze was the first to get up and leave.

Liu Yu immediately stood up: "Come back! Come back here right now!"

Upon hearing this, Zong Ze stopped in his tracks, turned around, and said, "In the imperial court, rotten wood holds office; beneath the throne, beasts feast on the rich!"

As he spoke, Zong Ze took another step. He didn't understand, he didn't comprehend, what was wrong with the imperial court?
In recent years, Zong Ze has actually become less extreme. Even back in the imperial examination, when he criticized the emperor and the court officials on the spot, causing him to remain a low-ranking scholar for life, his temper had already been tempered a lot. But now that he's old, he's going to have another outburst.

Zong Ze was not coming back, which made Liu Yu even more furious. As a newly appointed official, he had lost all face and angrily declared, "I will definitely report your crime of disrespecting the court and superiors to the imperial court!"

Zong Ze had already left, so he couldn't answer. But Fan Yun, who was present, spat out, "Pah!"

After saying that, he left!

"Hey!" Liu Yu thought he had misread it. Zong Ze was at least a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), a high-ranking official. Liu Yu was helpless in competing with him.

What is this object in front of me?
A crude and uncouth soldier, a thieving soldier, barely literate—where did they get the audacity?
"Men! Men! Seize this traitorous soldier and beat him to death!" Liu Yu shouted, jumping up and down.
There were many military officers present, so they naturally wouldn't make a move.

Over there, there were quite a few constables, all looking completely bewildered.

Outside the yamen, there were indeed a few soldiers, Liu Yu's personal guards. Hearing the shouts, they actually stepped inside, looked around, and didn't know what they wanted to do.

"It's him, it's him! Get him, get him!" Liu Yu pointed repeatedly.

Suddenly, Fan Yun drew his long sword from his waist and pointed it at Liu Yu: "You treacherous scoundrel, you still want to harm my husband? I've died countless times on the battlefield, and I've killed so many people that I can't even count them all. I'm afraid you're tired of living! Today I'll fight you to the death and see if my sword is sharp enough!"

The scene suddenly froze; clearly, today's events were not so simple...

(Guys, we're really tired today... Let's do it again tomorrow!)

(End of this chapter)