When Wang Yue and Shi Ah returned, Chen Xiao was meeting Zhang He.
Following Chen Xiao's instructions, Zhang He and the 100 Jizhou cavalrymen settled down in the posthouse outside the city, changed their luggage, and entered Luoyang in batches.
He was staying in the Zhen family's inn.
It was not far from the courtyard where Chen Xiao was staying.
With the gold cakes given by Chen Xiao, Zhang He and the others had a good time these few days. Not only did they witness the prosperity of Luoyang City, but they also bought many things to bring back to their families.
However, Zhang He still remembered that day when Chen Xiao said that she would look for him again.
Thus, after strolling around for a few days, he waited at the inn.
After that.
He heard the news that a merchant from Jizhou had spent a huge amount of money to buy the governor of Youzhou. The people inside and outside the inn, as well as the entire city of Luoyang, were talking about it!
Zhang He couldn't believe this news.
They were shocked again.
In the end, it turned into a bitter smile.
" Ever since His Majesty sold his official position, there have been countless people who have bought it. However, I'm afraid this is the only one who has caused such a huge commotion like Young Master Chen…"
"Such methods and boldness are comparable to Lu Buwei, who was a rare commodity during the Warring States Period, right?”
He was a smart man.
From this news, he had already guessed Chen Xiao's purpose for keeping him here.
As expected, when Chen Xiao appeared in front of him again, the first thing she said was,""Xu Yi, are you willing to follow me to Youzhou to pacify the people and make contributions?”
He went straight to the point.
Zhang He smiled even more bitterly.
After he stood up and greeted her, he could not help but look puzzled." Zhang He is just a military officer in the Jizhou Army. How could he be so valued by Young Master Chen…"
Zhang He was only in his twenties.
He had yet to experience a great battle and grow into the future Four Court Pillar of Hebei.
He had joined the army because of the imperial court's crusade against the Yellow Turban rebels. The only war he had experienced was to suppress the Yellow Turban Rebellion. Although his martial strength was extremely high, he was not one of the Five Great Generals who could take charge of an area alone.
In the Ji Province Army, he was just a mere commander.
He could only command a few hundred people.
Therefore, he did not understand why Chen Xiao valued him so much!
"You don't have to belittle yourself. Jia Cong doesn't know how to judge people, and he actually let you serve under Pan Feng.”
Chen Xiao's gaze was sincere and her words were firm.""As long as you experience some battles, you will definitely be able to take charge of an area and become a famous general of a generation. You will be invincible on the battlefield!”
Zhang He was surprised.
He never expected that Chen Xiao would have such a high evaluation of him!
The two of them had only been together for a short ten days!
"Thank you for your kindness, Young Master. Zhang He…I don't deserve it!”
At this moment, even though he felt that Chen Xiao was saying something nice, Zhang He could not help but feel a trace of joy and excitement in his heart.
A scholar dies for a confidant.
As a low-level general, there was actually someone who appreciated him so much.
It's an honor.
He was flattered.
However, he did not immediately accept Chen Xiao's offer. Instead, he muttered,"" But I am, after all, a military officer of Jizhou and an official of the imperial court. I have come to the capital on the orders of the provincial governor and have yet to return to report…"
Chen Xiao saw through his worries at a glance.
"Are you looking down on me, the Overseer of Youzhou?”
"Of course not!"
Zhang He's expression changed." I've been traveling with you, Young Master," he said hurriedly." I and all my soldiers know your character and virtue. How can I look down on you?" Moreover, Young Master is now the governor of a province. In terms of status, he is even higher than Provincial Governor Jia. Even if I have ten thousand guts, I don't dare to look down on Young Master!”
Facing Chen Xiao, who was no longer the same as before, he could not help but feel a little uneasy.
He explained repeatedly.
" That's because I bought my position as Youzhou Prefecture's Overseer," Chen Xiao said indifferently." So you have concerns, right?"”
Zhang He was speechless for a long time.
This was indeed the case.
In this day and age, the reputation of buying officials was really too bad.
Zhang He had participated in the suppression of the Yellow Turbans, so he knew very well that the rebels were actually commoners who had risen up because they could not survive.
Why couldn't the people survive?
It was because corrupt officials were everywhere and extorted exorbitant taxes.
Among them, many of them were officials bought with money. Because buying officials cost a huge sum of money, they desperately accumulated wealth after taking office, completely ignoring the livelihood and life and death of the people.
Before this, Zhang He had a good impression of Chen Xiao and did not look down on her because of her merchant identity.
But at this moment, he couldn't help but think too much.
"I heard…"
He looked at Chen Xiao and hesitated for a long time. In the end, he could not help but say,"Young Master spent hundreds of millions of money to buy the position of the Overseer of Youzhou? You even bribed all the ministers?"
"Hahaha…"
Chen Xiao laughed when she heard that." Are you worried that I'll abuse my power to extort money wantonly after I take office?"”
Zhang He took a deep breath.
He gritted his teeth and cupped his fists at Chen Xiao.""Although I am not talented and am only a military commander, I still care about the people. Even if I die, I will definitely not help the tiger and do something that harms the people!”
Chen Xiao only said one sentence to his question.
"Do you think that with the Zhen family's wealth and my ability to earn money from doing business, I need to collect money from the commoners? And if I wanted to levy exorbitant taxes, would I be so stupid as to choose such a bitter and cold place like Youzhou?”
Zhang He was speechless.
Indeed.
Chen Xiao only used a short two years to expand Wuji's Zhen family's business empire to the extreme.
The name of the rich is known to the world.
There was no need to plunder money from those poor people.
"This is exactly what I don't understand!”
Zhang He smiled bitterly." With Young Master's ability and the Zhen family's status, it's not difficult for him to be elected as a filial and honest official. He could have entered the court as an official. Why would he spend so much money to buy an official position?"”
"Of course, it's for the sake of the people."
Chen Xiao used the calmest tone to say the most provocative words,""Nowadays, eunuchs are in power, and they are always thinking of fighting against the same party and oppressing the common people. In the eyes of all the officials in the court, they are all fighting for power and profit. Even officials appointed by the court have to pay to be officials…In such a court, if I were to elect a filial and honest official, when would I be able to take power? When can we benefit the people?"
"Since His Majesty is willing to sell the official position, and I have the money to buy the highest official position, why not?”
"At least after I become the herdsman of Youzhou Province, all the commoners in Youzhou Province could live hundreds of times better than now!”
"If not for that, why would I recruit him to follow me to Youzhou to pacify the people?!”
Zhang He's expression changed uncontrollably.
At this point, he could tell that Chen Xiao was not just making empty promises.
Otherwise, he could have chosen Jizhou or Yuzhou, which were rich places.
There was no need to choose Youzhou Province!
"Xuyi, I won't hide it from you. Jia Cong, the governor of Jizhou, has failed to quell Zhang Chun and Zhang Ju's rebellion and will soon be dismissed. The new governor of Jizhou will be Han Fu, the Imperial Censor.”
Chen Xiao patted Zhang He's shoulder and said,""He's a disciple of Yuan Clan. He values family background the most. As you're born in an ordinary family, you won't be able to stand out under his command. Why don't you follow me to Youzhou Province and open up a brand new situation…"
As he spoke, he handed over the transfer orders he had obtained to Zhang He.
Zhang He opened his mouth with a blank expression.
"The few people on this list all have the potential to be famous generals. I have already issued transfer orders to them in the name of the Imperial Court.”
Chen Xiao did not hide her plan at all and said,"" Now that I've just become the Overseer of Youzhou, it's time for me to hire people. If Xu Yi is willing to follow me, he will be my confidant. If he isn't willing, when these people come to Youzhou from all over the world, I'll have more people under my command."”
"When that time comes…"
Zhang He understood the rest of the sentence.
It was a completely different treatment to serve now and in the future.
Zhang He's heart was in a dilemma as he subconsciously opened the transfer orders.
Zhang Liao of Yanmen…
Gao Shun…
Nanyang Huang Zhong…
Cheng Pu and Han Dang under Sun Jian, the Governor of Changsha…
Zhang He had never heard of these names before.
On the other hand, Sun Jian, the Tiger of Jiangdong, had once suppressed the Yellow Turbans, followed Marshal Zhang Wen to quell the Qiang rebellion in Xiliang, and even quelled the rebellion in Changsha. He was quite famous.
He had indeed heard that there were a few generals under him who were extremely brave.
Could it be Cheng Pu and Han Dang?
"That's all I have to say.”
Chen Xiao said and turned to leave.
Zhang He opened his mouth slightly, subconsciously wanting to say something.
However, Chen Xiao turned around and said with a smile,""However, if Jingyi is unwilling to follow, I'm afraid he will have to return to Ye City alone. You have to be careful on the way.”
"Why?" Zhang He was startled.
Chen Xiao smiled and did not say anything, but pulled him into the courtyard.
The hundred elite cavalrymen who had entered the capital with him were standing in rows in the courtyard. Each of them had a purse in their hands, and their faces were filled with brilliant smiles.
On the other side, there were empty boxes.
Seeing the two of them walk out, hundreds of gazes immediately gathered.
"Boss, we've already decided to follow our lord. We're just waiting for you!”
"The lord has given us much more money than the imperial court!”
"With your ability, it's not difficult for you to make a name for yourself when you go to Youzhou with the lord!”
Zhang He understood what was going on.
The soldiers that he had brought with him had all fallen under Chen Xiao's money!
Zhang He suddenly felt a headache.
He looked at Chen Xiao and sighed deeply.
"I want to be alone!"
A 3,000-word chapter.
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