What a lucky world!

Chapter 129 The rebellious intention begins to emerge!

The reason why Zhang Mu was able to get on the boat from the poetry ferry was naturally because he showed the boatman the token that Song Haowen had given him.

The lake is surging.

In about an incense stick's time, Zhang Mu was sent to a small island.

At this time, the island was bustling with people coming and going.

The boatman tied up the boat and said to Zhang Mu, "Sir, please follow me."

As he spoke, the boatman avoided the main gate of the villa and took a detour to the back of the villa. Zhang Mu immediately followed him.

After about a cup of tea, the boatman led Zhang Mu to a side door and knocked three times. A moment later, an old servant opened the door from the inside. The boatman whispered a few words to the old servant, who looked at Zhang Mu with some surprise, then bowed and said, "Sir, may I have a look at the token?"

Zhang Mu had no objection. He took out the token again and handed it to the old servant. The old servant examined it carefully for a moment, then returned it to Zhang Mu and said, "Sir, please follow me!"

Having said that, he turned and walked in. Zhang Mu stepped through the side door and followed the old servant into the depths of the manor.

Turn around the red pavilion and pass the long corridor, which twists and turns.

Finally, the old servant brought Zhang Mu to a rather secret reception room.

"Sir, please sit for a moment. I will go and invite the master over." The old servant made a cup of tea for Zhang Mu and said again.

"Thank you for your hard work." Zhang Mu nodded and watched the old servant walk out of the reception room.

After the old servant left, Zhang Mu looked around.

The living room was decorated very simply, except for the calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls, all of which looked to be extraordinary pieces.

Zhang Mu looked at it carefully. They were all poems praising Zihu Villa. However, the signature in the middle surprised Zhang Mu.

Zhang Taiyue!
I have heard this person's name from Song Haowen several times.

The prime minister of the current dynasty is a role model for others.

But even if Zhang Mu is not in the center, one can feel that Daxia is about to collapse. Can Zhang Taiyue really save the time and the world?
While sighing, Zhang Mu noticed someone coming, so he quickly straightened his clothes and looked towards the door.

Then I saw an old man who was over 60 years old but in good spirits walked quickly into the reception room.

"Are you Song Haowen's student?" the old gentleman asked when he saw Zhang Mu.

Zhang Mu hurried forward and saluted: "Junior Zhang Mu, I come to Zihu Villa on Mr. Song's instructions."

Upon hearing this, the old man stepped forward and helped Zhang Mu up. He looked him over again and nodded, "So, Haowen is really gone?"

Zhang Mu took out Song Haowen's token from his arms and handed it to him.

The old man took the token, a look of nostalgia on his face, and nodded: "I am Zhao Songtao, the current owner of Zihu Villa. You can just call me Old Zhao."

Zhang Mu followed his instructions and called out "Mr. Zhao" again.

Zhao Songtao gestured for Zhang Mu to sit down and said, "A few months ago, I sent people to Wan'an County, but they couldn't find Hao Wen's whereabouts. The guards I sent there were also killed."

"Although I still hold onto a 1 in 10,000 chance of hope, I also know that asking too much is more likely to bring disaster than good."

"What happened?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Mu pondered for a moment and then told the story of how County Magistrate Zhou Yangyou and the magistrates of four other counties, with the help of the Zhou family, raised demons and used the price of rice to stir up disasters, causing the people to go bankrupt and nearly 100,000 people to be displaced.

"Mr. Song investigated the matter and was about to go to Yongning Prefecture to find an opportunity to report it, but he was intercepted on the way."

"I'm the only one of the 32 escort team members who survived."

After listening to Zhang Mu's story, Zhao Songtao sighed and the living room fell silent.

After a moment, Zhao Songtao slowly spoke, "Rumor has it that a young knight, armed with a spear and using his powerful steps, broke into Wan'an County alone and killed the county magistrate, Zhou Yangyou, with his own hands."

"Does it have anything to do with you?"

Zhang Mu heard this and hesitated for a moment before saying, "It's me!"

Zhao Songtao looked at Zhang Mu, frowning slightly. "Did you know that Zhou Yangyou was a disciple of the Cui family of Boling? Did you know that killing an official of the imperial court is a serious crime?"

Zhang Mu held the military support card in his hand, a smile on his face. "I told you the truth, old sir, because I trust Mr. Song's character. What's the matter? Are you going to bring me to justice?"

Zhao Songtao and Zhang Mu looked at each other for a moment and suddenly laughed out loud.

"Good kill!"

Zhao Songtao handed the token from Song Haowen to Zhang Mu and said, "I originally asked Zhang Taiyue for this for Haowen. Now that Haowen has passed away, I'm giving it to you. From now on, you'll be a distinguished guest at my Purple Lake Villa."

Zhang Mu was not surprised by Zhao Songtao's change of heart. He took the token with both hands, stood up and thanked him, and then put it away properly.

Inviting Zhang Mu to sit down again, Zhao Songtao continued, "I've seen you look so heroic and capable, and you were able to assassinate a county official in the street. You must have a good talent for martial arts. Do you have a place to go now?"

"Although my Purple Lake Villa is founded on literature, it still has some reputation in the martial arts world. If you are willing, I can arrange it for you."

"Maybe I can find a master teacher for you. Is that okay?"

Zhang Mu smiled when he heard this and said, "Thank you, Mr. Zhao, for your concern. I've found a good place now."

Hearing Zhang Mu say this, Zhao Songtao frowned slightly, narrowed his eyes, looked at Zhang Mu again, seemed to have thought of something, and said nothing more.

"Mr. Zhao, I have something else I want to ask you." Zhang Mu spoke again.

Zhao Songtao smiled and said, "You want to ask about this demonic disaster. How will the imperial court handle it in the end?"

Zhang Mu nodded. Zhou Yang was dead.

But what about the county magistrates of the other four counties?

What about the chief officials above these five county magistrates?
And what about the culprit, Zhou of Boling?

"What do you think will happen?" Zhao Songtao looked at Zhang Mu meaningfully.

Zhang Mu was stunned for a moment, then gave a wry smile.

he thinks?
Of course he thought they all deserved to die.

But is this possible?

"At least... the officials should be executed, and the Zhou family of Boling must also pay the price!" Zhang Mu thought for a while and said.

Zhao Songtao shook his head: "The official was dismissed and will not be employed again. As for the Zhou family of Boling, they are unharmed."

"Why?" Zhang Mu felt furious when he heard that.

That's it?

Zhao Songtao looked at the sky outside the hall and said softly, "Corrupt officials are harming the people. This matter cannot be acknowledged by the court, nor by the officials!"

"As a father and mother, how can you harm your own children?"

"If they admit it, how will the imperial court deal with it? And how will the local officials deal with it?"

"Heh..." Zhang Mu laughed out loud in anger and asked, "What about Zhou?"

"Actually, the whole story of this matter has been investigated and it has nothing to do with the Zhou family." Zhao Songtao said softly.

"Impossible!" Zhang Mu stood up suddenly, "How can it have nothing to do with them?"

Zhao Songtao gestured to Zhang Mu to calm down, took a sip of tea, and said, "A year and a half ago, a fleet of the Zhou family of Boling encountered a storm at sea, and three cargo ships capsized."

"The leader of that fleet is the son of the Zhou family's chief steward."

"To make up for the deficit, the steward's son, along with several of his collateral relatives, promised huge profits and orchestrated this demonic disaster that struck five counties."

"A few days ago, the Zhou family punished the housekeeper's son according to family rules."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Mu looked at Zhao Songtao in disbelief.

what?
The housekeeper's son?

The demonic disaster in five counties was just to make up for the losses of a fleet a year and a half ago?

At this moment, countless images emerged in Zhang Mu's mind.

There were starving people blocking the road on the official road, and there were camps of starving people outside Wan'an County.

Mr. Shi who hanged himself, Zhou Yuanguang who wanted to be a father, and Mr. Song who told himself, "I will go forward even if there are thousands of people against me"...

There was also Song Biaotou who grabbed his hand on Qianyuan Mountain and wanted to divorce his wife before dying!

We are all trying hard to live, why would we lose our lives for something so unrelated?
joke!

It's just a big joke.

Their death wasn't even worthy of being a footnote to a disaster.

It's not about a big family harming the people, nor is it about political oppression.

He is just a small housekeeper's son who wants to make up for the shortfall.

All the tragedy and heroism seem like a huge irony at this moment.

Sad and ridiculous.

The world? This is a man-made disaster!
It is a man-made disaster caused by those in high positions!

Zhang Mu felt the fire in his heart getting hotter and hotter.

“Heaven created all things to nourish man, yet people still blame Heaven for being unkind.”

"I don't know that locusts are everywhere in the world, and the common people and the king's ministers are suffering."

"People are born with different statuses, and the noble are always favored by God."

"The wealth and honor of a person are determined by heaven, while the poverty of the common people is caused by heaven's punishment."

Zhao Songtao looked at Zhang Mu and asked, "Little brother, what are you reading?"

Zhang Mu stood up, walked to the calligraphy and painting of Zhang Taiyue, picked up the brush in his hand, and glanced at Zhao Songtao.

Zhao Songtao hesitated for a moment and nodded.

Zhang Mu immediately raised his hand and added two more lines of poetry after the calligraphy of the Prime Minister of the current dynasty, the prime minister who saved the time:

"Suddenly, a madman sharpens his sword at night, and the emperor's star flutters high!"

After saying that, Zhang Mu threw down his pen, bowed to Zhao Songtao, and walked out of the reception room!

(End of this chapter)