When Han Jie first came to Gu Qing as a personal guard, Guo Ziyi grandly introduced him, saying that he was "upright by nature and could not tolerate his colleagues."

When Gu Qing heard this introduction, he did not take it seriously. He just regarded it as a casual polite word from Guo Ziyi, because the word "righteous" is strictly not a derogatory term, and it often has something to do with "a good person". So Gu Qing automatically understood Guo Ziyi's introduction word at that time as "Han Jie is a good comrade."

Later, during the days I spent with Han Jie, Gu Qing did not think that the character of this good comrade was anything eye-catching. Just like Gu Qing dealing with the errands of Zuo Wei, Han Jie in his eyes seemed to be dealing with the errand of "personal guards". He had never encountered any danger anyway. A group of personal guards was like following the dandy's traitors to go to work and check in after get off work.

It's like a middle-aged man who is not interested in a career but has to compromise for life.

However, Gu Qing did not expect that the damn Guo Ziyi was telling the truth, and Han Jie was indeed very straightforward.

He actually dared to speak bluntly in front of the governor for scolding him for being "nonsense". This behavior is already very rude and has a 100% chance of making enemies.

"He is my personal guard. He used to be the commander of the left guard of Chang'an. The general is inevitably irritable by nature. Governor Xing is forgiven." Gu Qing smiled and smoothed out the situation.

Xing Shen's face turned pale. As an emperor in Shangzhou City, he was used to flattery in daily life, but today he was pointed at his nose by a general who came out of nowhere to call him "nonsense". No one dared to treat him like this for many years.

Gu Qing and Xing Shen were already unfamiliar, and the atmosphere of chatting with strangers was a bit awkward and unfamiliar. At this time, Han Jie said something more and the atmosphere became more and more unhappy.

Xing Shen is the governor of Shangzhou, and Gu Qing is the General of the Left Guard of Chang'an. In the officialdom, he can be said to be a completely different person in the two systems, and there is almost no intersection. Although Gu Qing's status as a county marquis is higher than Xing Shen, Xing Shen also has a backer in the Chang'an court, so he didn't have to give Gu Qing any face.

"The good part of Guxianhou's training is a straightforward person." Xing Shen smiled slightly and commented indifferently.

This is a bit ugly, it is clearly accusing Gu Qing of being incompetent. Especially when he said it with a smile, he was even more malicious.

Gu Qing also smiled: "Gu's rule is not strict, and I laughed. It's a blessing to say that my personal guard is also a good thing. Yesterday, he was beaten out of the palace by a servant from the Shangzhou Governor's Mansion. The officials of the Shangzhou Governor's Mansion were selfless and taught Gu's personal guards a lesson. This marquis would like to thank the noble subordinate of the governor Xing for his discipline."

These words were tit-for-tat, and the export was given a hat to the Shangzhou Governor's Office.

Xing Shen was stunned, turned his head and looked at Han Jie outside the hall carefully, frowned and stroked his beard and said, "I did hear that someone came to our mansion to cause trouble yesterday and was driven away by the servants in front of the door, but I didn't know that it was the Marquis' noble family and offended him."

Gu Qing smiled and said, "My personal guard is rough and thick-skinned. It's okay to be beaten on weekdays. But isn't the servants in your house going too hard? I asked the doctor to show him last night. I clearly suffered severe internal injuries and vomited blood last night..."

Looking at Xing Shen's astonished gaze, Gu Qing's expression gradually became serious, and he deliberately reiterated his tone and said, "...it's very serious!"

Han Jie outside the hall was also stunned, and then began to hesitate whether to pretend that he was seriously injured. It was a bit difficult to vomit blood.

Xing Shen's eyelids twitched and he clenched his back teeth.

This man... actually openly blackmailed!

Such a serious internal injury means that if one or two prisoners are not released, the internal injury will not be cured?

Seeing the vibrant general outside the hall, he was full of energy when he was attacked by the governor, so how could he show any signs of internal injuries?

As for this, the chat atmosphere has become very stiff and cold. If it weren't for the other party's identity as a county marquis, Xing Shen would have planned to leave.

"Forgive me, the marquis of Gu County, Zheng Jian is not allowed to let go of the official sect..." Xing Shen stroked his beard and said lightly: "The deserter is going to be punished by Ming Zhengdian. Since the governor's office has taken this person, it must report to the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Justice will sentence him to the sentence. If the person is sent to the prison, he is no longer in control of his official position."

Gu Qing nodded in understanding: "I am also aware of the difficulties of governor Xing, but Zheng Jian is my friend for many years. Since the country is very strict, I am unable to do anything to my friends. At least I have to do something outside to my friends. I will not hide it from governor Xing. Zheng Jian's mother learned that he had committed a crime and cried at home. Governor Xing said that Zheng Jian was a deserter, so she asked to take out the document issued by the Anxi Protectorate. I would like to have an explanation to his mother when I went back. How about it?"

Xing Shen said indifferently: "Forgive me, the Marquis of Gu County, this is the matter of our government. It is not convenient for the subordinates to take the documents to outsiders."

Gu Qing raised his eyebrows: "Governor Xing, isn't this a bit unreasonable? I can't get the documents. Could it be that this is an unjust case made in front of this marquis?"

Xing Shen's tone became more and more stiff: "The Marquis was honored and favored by the Emperor in Chang'an, and the subordinates should not be punished. However, the county marquis should not interfere in local official affairs. This is the law of the court, so please respect yourself."

Looking at Han Jie who was trembling with anger outside the hall but forced to hold it back, Gu Qing sighed.

As expected, the ending of coming to the governor's mansion this time was not optimistic. It was obvious that the chat was impossible to continue. One more thing was to break up. Before he could figure out Xing Shen's background background, Gu Qing decided to endure it first.

Having a smile without a smile, Gu Qing stood up and brushed his sleeves, saying, "Thank you for your hospitality by Governor Xing, I will say goodbye."

Xing Shen also stood up expressionlessly: "The emperor respectfully sends the marquis to the marquis."

As he said "Great Sayings", Xing Shen did not move. Being able to stand up seemed to be his greatest politeness.

Gu Qing walked out of the hall with a smile. Han Jie, who was following behind, was full of anger and could not calm down. He turned around and sneered at Xing Shen. He was about to say a few harsh words, but Gu Qing was almost covering his mouth with quick eyes and hands.

…………

After walking out of the governor's mansion, Han Jie said angrily: "Why did the Marquis stop Mo Jiang from speaking just now?"

Gu Qing sneered: "What can you say? Thirty years from Hedong, thirty years from Hexi, don't bully the young man's poor?"

Han Jie's eyes lit up: "A good sentence, I've been thinking about it. I should have said this just now."

Gu Qing said lazily: "Be careful, this sentence is for breaking the engagement, and it is not suitable to use it here. Besides, although I am a teenager, I am not poor at all."

Han Jie took two steps and said in a stronger tone: "Marty, the governor named Xing is a nonsense. Zheng Jian is definitely not a deserter. He clearly wants to hold people away."

Gu Qing nodded: "I also believe he is not a deserter. What we need to figure out now is why he took Zheng Jian and why he lied to say that he was a deserter. Only by finding the reason can we find the root cause of the problem."

"What should we do next? Please give me instructions."

Gu Qing thought for a while and said, "First of all, I will send someone back to Chang'an to find Li Shierniang and ask her to help me find out who the governor's backer is. If you want to grasp him, the backer is his life."

"yes."

"Secondly, I send some personal guards out and are scattered in the streets and alleys of Shangzhou City. Whether shopping or hanging out in the restaurant, I can talk less and watch more and listen more. Remember all the opinions of the people's market about the governor of Shangzhou and report them to me when I come back."

"yes."

Gu Qing let out a breath and said, "Finally, take me to see Zheng Xiang and his mother."

Zheng Xiang and his mother lived in a house in a dark alley in Shangzhou City. The house was very simple and surrounded by other houses on all sides. They walked around winding paths before they could reach it.

A few personal guards were left outside to watch the wind. Gu Qing walked into the yard and saw Zheng Xiang, who was haggard, supporting an old woman. When he saw Gu Qing coming in, Zheng Xiang's eyes suddenly turned red and he knelt in front of Gu Qing.

"Mr. Xie personally ran for the villain, villain..."

Gu Qing helped him up and smiled gently, "If something happens, I am not the marquis, but your brothers in robes. I will not be polite. This matter has not been resolved yet. It should be changed as soon as possible."

The old woman next to her had a vicissitudes of face, but her eyes were extremely strong. She looked at Gu Qing, then bent her knees and said with a blessing: "The old woman pays homage to the Marquis."

Gu Qing hurriedly supported her and smiled and said, "This aunt Moduoli, how can the elders salute to the younger generation? It's a shame to the younger generation."

The old woman sighed, "It is a blessing for Xiang'er to be a personal guard for the Marquis. The Marquis's noble character came from Chang'an for a mere guard. It shows that the Marquis's sincerity in the army, the old woman has already entrusted Xiang'er to protect the servants in the future. If he encounters danger, he will not hesitate to stop him from dying. If he is like a Marquis, it would be great if there are more people like the Marquis..."

Gu Qing smiled bitterly and said, "Auntie, don't say anything about life or death. We will not die, we must live well. If this matter is gone, I will take care of my brothers' marriage with me."

The old woman showed a sad look and sighed: "Jian'er was taken to the prison by the governor's office, and I don't know when it will be released. They were too much. Not only did they not give pensions, but they also arrested the son who had bleed to fight for the country. The government did this, and the old woman regretted sending her son to the army..."

Gu Qing turned his head and looked at Zheng Xiang and said, "Your brother was taken away. When did you arrive in Shangzhou?"

Zheng Xiang said: "The villain arrived in Shangzhou three days ago and claimed a leave to General Han before leaving."

"What have you done in Luonan County or Shangzhou City in the past three days, and what have you said to the people in the government?"

Zheng Xiang thought for a while and said, "When the villain heard something happened at home, he asked General Han for leave. When the villain arrived at Shangzhou City, his brother had been taken to prison by the governor's mansion. The villain did nothing and had never seen anyone from the government. After knowing that his brother was taken, the villain knew that it could not be solved. He immediately asked his fellow villagers to send a letter to Chang'an and asked General Han to come over... General Han treated us like brothers. In the past, he had asked General Han for help when he encountered unsolvable things."

Gu Qing said in confusion: "That's strange. It's the same thing that your brother was taken away, but you did nothing. Why did the governor's mansion take you?"

Zheng Xiang recalled for a long time and said hesitantly: "Maybe, maybe... the governor's house thinks the villain knows something inside..."

Gu Qing's eyes lit up and he said, "What do you know?"

"After my brother returned home from Anxi Protectorate half a year ago, the villain took leave and went home. He got together with his brother. That night, the villain and his brother both drank wine. When his brother was half drunk, he told me that he knew that the court had pensions for the wounded soldiers in Guitian, but he... had never expected the government to give him the pensions."

“Why?”

"Brother said that when he was in the army at the Anxi Protectorate, there were several fellow villagers in the camp. Later, in several major battles, several of the fellow villagers died and injured. The injured returned home. When the brother returned to his hometown, they also lived a poor life. It is said that the Luonan County Government had never given any pensions, and the veterans also went to make trouble. However, the county government treated them very rudely, and even tore up the officers issued by the Anxi Protectorate and drove them away..."

Gu Qing vaguely understood the root of this matter.

"How many young and strong people have been in the entire Shangzhou in recent years?"

Zheng Xiang smiled shyly and said, "Mr. Marquis, you are so stumping the villain. The villain is just a soldier and food, how can he know so much..."

Zheng Xiang's old mother said next to her: "I don't know that there are about one or two hundred young and strong people who have walked out of our village to join the army over the years. Many children and old women have watched them grow up and watched them carry their bags to join the army. Generation after generation, batch after batch, but few people have ever seen anyone come back..."

Gu Qing took a deep breath, as if he was about to exhale the turbid air that blocked his chest, and said softly: "There are one or two hundred people in a village. How many villages are there on the ground of Shangzhou? How many young and strong are there? If every person who died in the army or is disabled in battle, the court will give two hundred pensions, then how many pensions should a thousand people and ten thousand people? If the officials detain the money, they will be so full of oil..."

Everyone in the yard was shocked.

Gu Qing revealed the root of this matter in one sentence. It was not until now that everyone understood why Zheng Jian was taken and why Luonan County Government held up the pension and refused to issue it.

Han Jie said with disbelief: "Mr. Marquis, the government is not so brave, aren't you afraid of the family members of veterans who died in battle gathering to make trouble?"

Gu Qing said lightly: "A part of the pension for the dead of war should have been paid. The government dare not arouse public anger. I believe my aunt knows it? Have the pension for the dead of war in your village been paid in recent years? Do the family feel that there are too few?"

The old woman nodded and said, "Yes, there are news of deaths in the village every year. Most of the minor officials from the county government paid only a few dozen to one hundred yuan when they came to pay for the pension. The villagers vaguely felt that something was wrong. Why did they sacrifice their lives for the country only give such a little? But the minor officials explained that it was an example of the imperial court, and every place in the Tang Dynasty was the same, so the villagers didn't say anything..."

Han Jie said coldly: "According to the Tang Dynasty, each person who died in battle must not be less than 200 yuan in pensions. Moreover, the special funds allocated by the Ministry of Revenue from the treasury were sent to the governor's offices in various places. The ten major cities on the border deducted the pension from the local taxes, and the rest were transferred to the treasury..."

Zheng Xiangne ​​said, "The villain knew something was wrong after joining the army, but the villain was just a soldier and food consuming, and could not afford such a big deal, so he had to remain silent..."

Gu Qing sighed: "The local government must have detained most of the pensions for those who died in battle, and those who have returned from the injury may not be able to get a penny. After all, the people's hearts are like iron, and the official laws are like furnaces. As long as people are alive, the government has some ways to help you. The injured veterans can only swallow their anger. Those who do not want to swallow their anger, such as your brother Zheng Jian, will be taken directly to the prison, or simply slander him as a deserter..."

He sneered a few times, Gu Qing said, "I was crazy about money, but I thought about it and attacked the veterans who were killed and disabled in battle. The governments in Shangzhou really made me more knowledgeable..."

Han Jie said angrily: "Marty, this matter is absolutely unbearable! Veterans are fighting for national wars. Those dog officials are not only drinking blood from soldiers, but simply swallowing the lives of veterans alive!"

Gu Qing didn't say anything, but he was struggling to fight in his mind.

This is too big. To be honest, Gu Qing can't afford to offend him.

It is certain that the local government has been in a mess. From the county government to the governor's office, this is another huge corruption case, and an industrial chain has even been formed from top to bottom. If this chain is destroyed by external forces, Gu Qing cannot be sure of how serious backlash he will suffer.

Today, when he saw Xing Shen's fearless look, he had no respect for him, the county marquis. Gu Qing was quite afraid of Xing Shen's backer at this moment. If the backer was not extremely powerful, Xing Shen would not be so rude.

Gu Qing has always been a rational person. He usually does not make any impulsive decisions before he understands the opponent's background.

To handle this corruption case, it is necessary to leverage the entire Shangzhou officialdom. With Gu Qing's current ability, he may not be able to do it. After all, Gu Qing is just a county marquis, not a prime minister.

"Wait first, wait for news from Chang'an." Gu Qing slowly exhaled, his face said with a gloomy face.

…………

Shangzhou Governor's Office.

After Gu Qing and others left, Xing Shen's expression remained gloomy and silent.

Zhou Wenxin, Sima of the Governor's Mansion, walked in gently. Zhou Wenxin used to be Xing Shen's Mubin, the person Xing Shen trusted the most. Later, after Xing Shen became the Governor, he planned a Sima job for Zhou Wenxin in the Governor's Mansion, saying that he was Sima. In fact, he was still Xing Shen's Mubin, and he had many ideas of losing his sons and grandchildren on weekdays.

"Governor, Wansheng just asked about the man named Gu Qing, who is quite famous..." Zhou Wenxin's face looked worried.

Xing Shen said coldly: "I know that Gu Qing is quite famous in Chang'an City. He was named a marquis for saving His Majesty's life. He also wrote some poems that were circulated by Chang'an scholars. He was just a young man who was successful because of his luck."

Zhou Wenxin whispered: "But he is a close minister of the emperor after all, and the emperor seems to favor him. If we offend him..."

Xing Shen snorted and said, "So what if you offend me? I am a person and an official, and I will give you a lot of benefits. He has a backer in Chang'an, so don't I have it? He is just a lucky boy, why worry?"

Zhou Wenxin said worriedly: "After all, it's not small, so this person should not be offended, otherwise he might have some trouble in the future. I thought... it's better to let the man surnamed Zheng go and make a good relationship with Gu Qing?"

Xing Shen sighed, "Do you think I don't want to let it go? That Zheng Jian is too ignorant. Before he took him the day before yesterday, he was playing drums in front of the governor's mansion. Do you know what he said when the officer took him?"

"What did you say?"

"Zheng Jian said that he wanted to seek justice for all the veterans in Shangzhou. He also said that the officialdom of Shangzhou should be deducted and intercepted veterans' pensions. He would gather all disabled veterans to Chang'an to file a lawsuit against the emperor. Do you think I can let him go?"

Zhou Wenxin hesitated and said, "Maybe they are saying angry words? If he releases him and gives him the pension, he shouldn't make trouble again..."

Xing Shen shook his head: "I can't afford to bet. If I let him out, there will be a county marquis behind him to support him. It is hard to guarantee whether he will really gather the veterans to Chang'an to file a lawsuit. Anyway, I have offended that county marquis. Now I am fighting for their own means and backing. Go and send a letter to Chang'an and attach 5,000 taels of silver cakes to tell me in detail about the troubles I encountered. The person who received the letter knows what to do."

Zhou Wenxin nodded and then hesitated: "That person with the surname Zheng..."
Chapter completed!