480 Officials along the way did not dare to protect each other. If anyone dared to stop them, the prefect would be killed; the governor would be killed; the prime minister would be killed.
If we empathize with the officials, well, Zhu Yuanzhang was indeed cruel.
It was really miserable to be an official during the Hongwu period.
Of course, Chen Jie does not want to learn from Lao Zhu. What Chen Jie wants is relative fairness, everything should be done in accordance with laws and regulations, and the country should be governed by law.
When officials harm the people, they are punished; when the people falsely accuse officials, they are punished.
The law only punishes crimes, not people.
In order to achieve this, Chen Jie had to do this: even if he broke the rules with his best people, he would be punished.
Even if someone is hated by Chen Jie, if what he does is beneficial to the development of Chen Jiusi's power, Chen Jie will promote him. This is the quality that a person in power should have.
So today, Zhou Chu must punish Si Xi who disobeyed orders.
Uncle Zhong looked at Chen Jie and wanted to persuade him. After all, Zhou Chu had no selfish motives in what he did. If he was punished, it would hurt Zhou Chu's feelings.
"Boss..."
Uncle Zhong spoke, but Chen Jie raised his hand and said, "Uncle Zhong, don't persuade me. Rules are rules, Chen Wang!"
After hearing the order, Chen Wang immediately clasped his fists and said, "I'm here."
"I order you to temporarily take over the position of the head of the Foreign Affairs Hall and be responsible for matters related to the flood discharge of the Mian River."
"Ah, Boss, I..."
Chen Wang was shocked. He was very self-aware. With his qualifications, it was a stretch for him to be the head of the Foreign Affairs Hall. What was Zhou Chu's status?
He is the gang leader's best friend, and has been through thick and thin with him.
Moreover, these days, no one was dissatisfied with Zhou Chu, the head of the Foreign Affairs Hall. He could not snatch this position away at all, and he did not want to snatch it either.
He also has a good personal relationship with Zhou Chu.
"Why, you want to take your life too?"
Chen Jie looked at Chen Wang, who was startled and quickly clasped his fists and said, "Yes, I obey your orders."
After saying this, Chen Jie waved his hand and said, "Come here, arrest Zhou Chu. After we return to the city, he and the Inner Hall Master, Si Xi, will be punished by the family law!"
"yes."
After hearing this, one of his disciples immediately went over and said to Zhou Chu: "Master Zhou, I'm sorry."
Zhou Chu smiled bitterly, said nothing, and did not resist. He just obediently let the disciples take him away.
Chen Jie handed over the subsequent disaster relief and flood discharge work to Uncle Zhong and Chen Wang.
The two of them immediately promised to complete the task, and Chen Jie went straight to the rear to meet the princess.
Zhao Ya looked at Chen Jie and said, "Mr. Chen is really decisive in his work. Xiantao Village is your home. Are you willing to give so much?"
Chen Jie smiled bitterly and said, "How can I bear to do that? However, as the leader of the fishing gang, I should take some responsibility. Besides, the people in Xiantao Village are almost all high-ranking members of my fishing gang. They have made some money over the years. Even if their homes are flooded, they can still survive. However, the people downstream have a hard life. If the flood floods their houses, I am afraid they will not be able to survive."
Zhao Ya heard this and said, "Sir, you are righteous."
Chen Jie smiled and said, "My Lord, you are too kind. By the way, my Lord, you are not looking for me just for this matter, right?"
After hearing this, the princess gave a look to A Da and the other two, and they immediately separated into a triangle, taking charge of guarding, leaving Chen Jie and the other two in the middle to talk alone.
When Chen Jie saw Zhao Ya being so formal, he knew that what they were discussing was not simple.
Zhao Ya looked at Chen Jie and said, "Mr. Chen, let's get straight to the point. Did you kill Battan?"
Chen Jie's eyelids twitched, but his face remained expressionless as he said, "No."
Zhao Ya said, "Are you sure? You should know that Batan is the King of Qi's man. The King of Qi comes from a military background and will never let go of any grievance. If you kill one of his people, he will never let you go easily. If you tell me the truth now, my Ruyang Palace can protect you."
Zhao Ya spoke very seriously and sincerely.
If someone with a weak mind, he would have probably told the truth, but Chen Jie still insisted: "No, I didn't kill Battan."
Zhao Ya looked at Chen Jie and asked, "You don't even tell me the truth?"
Chen Jie: "Yes, yes. No, no. I don't lie, and I won't deceive the princess."
Zhao Ya narrowed her eyes and asked, "You won't lie to me?"
Chen Jie said: "Yes, I won't deceive the princess."
Zhao Ya just stared at Chen Jie, and Chen Jie also looked at Zhao Ya. When their eyes met, Zhao Ya spoke: "Very good, remember what you said now, and in the future, if anyone asks you, you must answer truthfully, even if it's someone you're closest to."
Chen Jie did not answer, and the princess said, "Actually, it doesn't matter to me what Batan is like."
Chen Jie did not reply. The princess said, "But just because I believe in you doesn't mean others will believe in you, especially Yelu."
Um?
After hearing this, a barely perceptible coldness flashed across Chen Jie's eyes.
The princess said: "The Yelu family has been increasingly unpopular in the court recently. If there is an accident, we must naturally establish good relations with these frontier princes outside in order to take care of them. The Qi Palace is a good place to stay."
After hearing this, Chen Jie said nothing, but the coldness in his eyes became even more intense.
At this time, in Yelu Mansion, Yelu, who had just returned, rushed into the study and wrote a letter before he had time to take a hot bath.
After everything was done, Yelu said to a servant, "Send it to my brother in Xiangyang City immediately."
After hearing this, the servant immediately said, "Yes, sir, I will deliver it to the master right away."
Yelu's eldest brother currently serves as the Tongpan of Xiangyang City, and has a very good relationship with the prefect of Xiangyang City, who is a man of the King of Qi.
I will give this letter to my eldest brother now, and he will pass it to the King of Qi. I don't believe that the King of Qi will be able to sit still. When the time comes, hum!
Chen Jiusi, I don't think you will die!
That's right, what Yelu wrote was a letter of denunciation, and the content was very simple, that is, Chen Jie killed Batan of the Prince of Qi's Mansion. Given the character of the Prince of Qi, it is impossible for him not to react, as long as the Prince of Qi reacts.
Then crushing Chen Jiusi to death would not be much more difficult than crushing an ant.
Thinking of this, Yelu directly handed the letter to his servant and asked him to deliver it to Xiangyang City immediately. Xiangyang City was not far from the Qi Wang Mansion in Shaanxi.
Hubei Road is already connected to Shaanxi Road, so it can definitely lead to the Prince of Qi's Palace.
And I also have to find a way to deal with Chen Jiusi. If I can kill Chen Jiusi, the Qi Wang Mansion will know about it, and maybe I can be promoted. After all, the position of the governor of Huangzhou Prefecture is vacant...
Yelu thought about it, and his eyes focused slightly.
Chen Jiusi, Chen Jiusi, although you have become a powerful figure, you are still as weak as an ant in front of the King of Qi.
Moreover, Yelu sneered, the King of Qi has always been overbearing in his actions.
If you want to kill someone, you never need evidence, you just need a list.
Yelu thought about it, and then said to the housekeeper beside him: "Go and call Zhou Peng for me right now."
Zhou Peng, yes, it's Zhou Peng from the Beggars' Sect. Nan Batian is dead, and Old Monster Liu is dead. Now Yelu is in urgent need of promoting a few more useful gangs, and Zhou Peng is a good choice.
As for saying that the Beggars' Sect is very weak now?
Haha, the Cao Gang and the Yu Gang were also very weak back then, and they were all supported by him.
Thinking of this, Yelu's eyes became gloomy. Chen Jiusi, there must be a battle between you and me. Either you die or I die. There can only be one king of the Mian River!
…
On the embankment outside Xiantao Village.
Zhao Ya looked at Chen Jie and said, "So, no matter whether you killed Batan or not, as long as this matter is related to you, the Qi Wang Mansion will not talk about the evidence."
After hearing this, Chen Jie narrowed his eyes and said, "So, Chen is doomed?"
Zhao Ya said, "It should be so. However, as long as Mr. Chen works for my Ruyang Palace, I will protect him. However, you should also be prepared. The Qi Palace always uses any means to do things. I can help you block the open targeting, but you should also be more careful about the hidden attacks."
After hearing this, Chen Jie immediately clasped his fists and said, "Thank you, Princess, for protecting me."
Zhao Ya raised her hand and said, "It's okay, but I still have something to ask."
Chen Jie said: "Princess, please speak."
"Did you accept the inheritance of Changchun Valley?"
Zhao Ya stared at Chen Jie with her big, clear eyes, as if she wanted to find out what was going on.
Chen Jie looked at Zhao Ya and replied after a while: "I didn't accept it."
Zhao Ya said, "That's good. Actually, if you accept it, I hope you won't reveal it easily. The inheritance of Changchun Valley is related to a unique skill. Does Mr. Chen know about it?"
"Do you know Changchun Gong?"
Chen Jie answered frankly. After all, there was no need for him to lie. Changchun Kung Fu was actually quite well-known.
Zhao Ya said: "Yes, it is Changchun Gong. However, if it is just Changchun Gong, it is nothing. The main thing is that this Changchun Gong represents the "Four Seasons Celestial Phenomenon Art"
"Four Seasons Celestial Phenomenon Technique?"
Chen Jie pretended to be hearing it for the first time. Zhao Ya said, "Yes, it is the Four Seasons Celestial Art. This technique also has two names: the Three Divine Arts of China or the Three Divine Arts of the Human Emperor."
"Human Emperor?"
Chen Jie looked surprised.
Zhao Ya said: "That's right. Before the founding of Daqian, there have always been rumors that those who learn the three divine skills of the Human Emperor will have the potential to fight for the world."
"Haha, isn't this nonsense?"
Chen Jie just laughed and didn't seem to believe it.
Zhao Ya said: "That's true. How can the fate of a country be pinned on a single technique? However, in this world, it is better to believe something than not to believe it. Although the court does not believe it, it does not prevent them from taking precautions against this technique."
"So, Chen Jiusi, listen to my advice. Although I don't know if you really didn't inherit the skills of Changchun Valley, even if you did, don't show it casually. Although I don't believe in the theory of destiny, there are many people in the court who do believe in it."
"If they find out, they might report you. Then, the imperial court will be unable to stop you. Do you understand?"
After hearing this, Chen Jie clasped his fists and said, "Thank you, Princess, for reminding me. Although I have not inherited the skills of Changchun Valley, I will never forget what you said.
Zhao Ya said: "Chen Jiusi, you are very cunning. Okay, let's talk about what to do next."
Chen Jie looked at Zhao Ya and said, "Princess, is there anything else important?"
Zhao Ya looked at Chen Jie and asked, "Do you still have the Tai Sui Pill you obtained in the alchemy room?"
Chen Jie was stunned and carried Zhao Ya. Zhao Ya also looked at Chen Jie and said, "Why are you looking at me like that? Don't you think you can keep such a huge fortune?"
Chen Jie was silent. Zhao Ya said, "Take it out and let me see it."