Li Zhi, don't be a coward

Chapter 1387

The farmers were unwilling to grow sweet potatoes, but the county officials forced them to do so. Unwilling to be humiliated, the farmers ruthlessly killed their wives and children, and then hanged themselves from the rafters.

How reasonable and reasonable. It was just a civil dispute. The Duchang County magistrate reported it urgently because too many people died, and the whole family died, which had a bad impact.

Today's officials in the Tang Dynasty govern the Qingming Dynasty, and the people's customs are simple and there are very few murders. If a murder case occurs under the rule, it will affect the evaluation of the officials. This is what Duchang County Magistrate is worried about.

However, when the official document came into Li Qinzai's hands, he had a different taste.

Li Qinzai is not a conspiracy theorist, but he is not a fool either.

This murder case seemed reasonable, but it was related to the planting of sweet potatoes. It happened to happen just when Li Qinzai was sent to Jiangnan under the order, and it happened to happen under the rule of Jiangzhou City where he was stationed.

If there are too many coincidences, then they are not coincidences, but man-made.

In particular, the planting of sweet potatoes was one of the reasons why Li Qinzai came to Jiangnan, and it was also the main reason for the dispute between the prominent families in Jiangnan and the court.

So, is this still a simple murder case?
"What do you mean, Duke Li, this case is man-made?" Lu Yun asked solemnly.

"Otherwise? Everything just happened by chance. Do you believe it? Just after you, the Lu family in Wu County, promised to promote the planting of sweet potatoes, a murder occurred within your family's sphere of influence. Don't you think it really happened by chance?"

Lu Yunruo realized: "Someone wants to make a fuss about this matter. This fire will not only burn the Lu family of Wu County, but also burn the Lord Li..."

Li Qinzai blinked: "After this murder case, guess what they will do next?"

"The murder triggered public opinion. The farmer would rather die than plant sweet potatoes. If word spreads, farmers in Jiangnan will be as afraid of sweet potatoes as tigers. Foolish people don't need to delve into the reasons and just blindly follow them. Once public opinion takes hold, it may be difficult to reverse it. .”

"Once farmers are deceived into thinking that planting sweet potatoes will damage their harvests, farmers throughout Jiangnan Province will fall into panic. Even if we try our best to refute the rumors and promote the yield of sweet potatoes, no one will believe it. Good things don't go out, and bad things spread thousands of miles. , this is human nature.”

"Jungong Li, His Royal Highness Prince Teng, and the Lu family of Wu County, who promoted the planting of sweet potatoes, will be involved in the whirlpool and become the target of millions of people's reviles. Duke Li's next trip to the south of the Yangtze River will be full of obstacles and will be criticized by thousands of people. "

Li Qinzai looked at Lu Yun and couldn't help but show admiration in his eyes.

This kid from a distinguished family is really outstanding.

Although Li Qinzai's position was on the side of the poor, he had to admit that people from aristocratic families really attracted attention once their merits were revealed. Elite education from childhood was not learned in vain.

If it weren't for the fact that the imperial court's official appointment system was too rotten and that aristocratic families blocked the way for children from poor families to get ahead, Li Qinzai really felt that it was not a bad thing to allow children from aristocratic families to become officials.

Looking at Lu Yun with a smile, Li Qinzai suddenly asked: "Does Brother Huai'an have an official position?"

Lu Yun was stunned for a moment, and then he said humbly: "A dandy, a shameless official. My father found a position for me as a 'court council official', and he also led the Jiangzhou Sima."

Li Qinzai nodded. It would be unreasonable for the legitimate son of a prominent family in the south of the Yangtze River to not have an official position. The imperial court official is just a false title, but the Sima of Jiangzhou has real power. No wonder that when Li Qinzai came to Jiangzhou, the Lu family of Wu County was responsible for receiving him. His is Lu Yun.

"Jiangzhou Sima... this is a good official. A hundred years later, there will be a poet named Bai who will be with you. He likes to listen to pipa and will cry when he hears it. His blue shirt will be wet with tears. If Brother Huai'an can live until then, what will happen to him? It’s not easy for him to treat him better.”

Lu Yun was dumbfounded.

Why are you talking about a poet named Bai for no reason?
Who is this poet? Is he an old friend of Duke Li?But why did he come to Jiangzhou to become an official a hundred years later?The elite members of prominent families were filled with questions at the moment.

"I and the Lu family of Wu County will do their best to comply with Duke Li's request. If Mr. Bai comes to Jiangzhou as an official, the Lu family of Wu County will take care of him... I will also work hard to strive to live to that age."

Li Qinzai laughed and waved his hands: "Brother Huai'an, don't take it seriously. After a hundred years, no one will remember who is who."

Lu Yun laughed a few times and breathed a sigh of relief quietly.

This Duke Li's mind jumps so much that it is difficult to keep up with his rhythm when chatting with him. He is clearly talking about a murder case in Duchang County, but suddenly jumps to a poet named Bai a hundred years later. This rhythm makes Lu Yun very stressed. .

Li Qinzai flicked the official document in his hand and said leisurely: "From this murder case, it means that the enemy has taken action. This enemy is probably the work of a prominent family in the south of the Yangtze River. Others do not have the courage to provoke the emperor's imperial envoy."

"Brother Huai'an is the direct son of the Lu family in Wu County. Which of the seven prominent families in Jiangnan do you think this enemy hiding in the dark is?"

Lu Yun was startled and said hurriedly: "There is no evidence for this matter. It involves the rise and fall of a prominent family. I don't dare to make random guesses."

Li Qinzai smiled and said: "Let's just talk and don't hold accountable if we are wrong. Why don't you and I emulate Cao Liu of the Three Kingdoms today? Let's have a drink and talk about heroes. Tell us who of the other seven prominent families is most likely to do this." Things to do.”

Lu Yun looked dull and shook his head quickly, not daring to say whether he was alive or dead.

This topic was too deadly. If Lu Yun made random guesses in front of Li Qinzai, the consequences would be serious. With the murderous nature of the prince in front of him, he might be able to push a prominent family down the abyss with just one word.

Li Qinzai continued to be seductive: "Then let's put it another way. Which prominent family is your enemy of the Lu family in Wu County? Tell them and I will help you kill it. I will treat it as a meeting gift to you."

Lu Yun was stunned again.

Is it so reckless to wipe out a prominent family?
"Jun Gong Li, uh... this greeting gift is too heavy, and I dare not accept it. Moreover, I am afraid that the words about destroying the prominent clan... shouldn't be said casually, right?" Lu Yun said cautiously.

Li Qinzai smiled brightly: "Since the Lu family of Wu County is one of our own with the imperial court, I might as well tell you a confidential matter..."

"All ears are here."

"Do you know how Your Majesty and I agreed on the strategy for our trip to the south of the Yangtze River before leaving Chang'an?"

Lu Yun shook his head: "I don't know."

Li Qinzai's smile gradually took on a chilling tone. He stared into Lu Yun's eyes and said slowly, "Part of the strategy is to kill one person to serve as a warning to others!"

Lu Yun was horrified, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on his back for no reason: "Kill, kill..."

"Yes, kill one to serve as a warning to hundreds. In recent years, the prominent families in Jiangnan have become more domineering and disobedient, and the emperor has begun to murder. It is unrealistic to wipe out eight prominent families at the same time, and the impact will be too great. But killing one and pacifying seven can protect Jiangnan. It can also serve as a warning to noble families."

Lu Yun trembled all over and looked at Li Qinzai in fear.

(End of this chapter)