The Three Kingdoms: I asked you to save Guan Yu, not to destroy Sun Quan.

Chapter 742 Stealing Homes is Addictive

After following Guan Xing, Guan Yan read many books and learned about many things he had never encountered before, such as the disaster of the Party Prohibitions.

The so-called "Disaster of the Partisan Prohibitions" was ostensibly a fierce conflict between upright scholars and eunuchs who were dissatisfied with the eunuchs' monopoly of power. But what was the reality?

The eunuchs' power originated from the emperor, and the Qingliu faction, ostensibly opposing the eunuchs, was actually opposing imperial power.

Moreover, even if eunuchs held power, their authority was limited to the imperial court and the capital. It was difficult for them to influence the prefectures and counties outside the capital. Whose territory were the prefectures and counties outside the capital? They belonged to the gentry.

Therefore, the disaster of the Party Prohibitions ultimately stemmed from the dissatisfaction of local gentry with the court's reforms that infringed upon their interests, leading them to band together and challenge the court.

The results of it?

Afterwards, the eunuchs were portrayed as typical examples of tyranny and greed, while the aristocratic class, led by Liu Biao, Kong Yu, and other Eight Worthies of Jingxiang, was praised as a group of upright officials who served the country and the people and were not afraid of powerful figures. It's laughable when you think about it.

Eunuchs are corrupt. They all stay in the palace and rarely even leave the palace gates. How could they go to the provinces to embezzle?

Even if you were corrupt, how much could you possibly embezzle? So many corrupt officials in the world come from whose families? Don't you, the Eight Talents of Jingxiang, know this?

You levy exorbitant taxes in the local areas, yet you try to shift the blame onto the eunuchs and the emperor, and then portray yourselves as upright and incorruptible officials. Aren't you ashamed at all?

Having seen through Guan Xing the true nature of the gentry and the upright officials, Guan Yan angrily cursed, "These hypocritical scumbags! Even the girls in the pleasure quarters are more morally upright than them. What happened to them? Kong Ju took your spot and didn't even give an explanation."

Luo Feng pulled out two gold coins from his pocket and slammed them on the table, saying, "He gave me these to shut up, saying he would shut up for me if I didn't."

Guan Yan said speechlessly, "He's such a scoundrel, but don't worry, I heard that the court has changed the rules. They say that after recommending someone as a filial and incorruptible official, you still have to take the imperial examination. I saw Kong Ju when he came to the building. A playboy like him could never beat you in the exam."

Luo Feng sighed and said, "The imperial examination system is a system of the pseudo-Han dynasty and has nothing to do with our Great Wei. Great Wei implements the Nine-Rank System, and Kong Ju is a descendant of Confucius. Even if he has no virtue or talent, he will still rise rapidly in rank."

Kong Ju's background determined that as long as he entered officialdom through the filial piety and incorruptibility system, he could have a smooth career. In contrast, Luo Feng, even if he were lucky enough to enter officialdom, would only be cannon fodder.

Guan Yan rubbed his nose and chuckled sheepishly, "I really don't know. What's the difference between the two?"

He certainly knew the difference, but now he was the head of the brothel's henchmen, and he had to act as if he knew nothing about officialdom, which was in line with his current status.

Luo Feng said, “The difference is huge. The imperial examination system of the pseudo-Han can filter out the wicked and incompetent playboys. After that, we poor families will have a chance to take our place. Although the chance is slim, it is still a chance. The Zhongzheng system of the Great Wei is different. Poor families have no chance at all. If they want to get ahead, they can only go to the battlefield and risk their lives to be ennobled.”

Going into battle to kill the enemy is indeed the fastest way to cross social classes, but the mortality rate is too high. Moreover, the thought that he was risking his life to protect those who were trying to steal his place as a candidate for the civil service examination made Luo Feng feel particularly aggrieved.

Guan Yan sighed, "There's nothing we can do about it. Who told you to be born in the Great Wei and not the pseudo-Han?"

These words enraged Luo Feng, causing him to break down on the spot. He suddenly raised his head and glared angrily at Guan Yan.

Lao Tzu lost his spot because of his humble origins, and now you're saying I was born in the wrong place? Isn't that just rubbing salt into his bleeding wound?

Guan Yan was startled by his gaze and quickly smiled apologetically, saying, "Calm down, calm down. This matter is not over yet. The pseudo-Han Liu Huangshu keeps clamoring for a northern expedition. Who knows, he might cross the river one day and sacrifice Kong Ju to his banner. So you still have a chance."

"The pseudo-Han... Liu Huangshu..." Mentioning this, Luo Feng's spirits lifted, and he suddenly turned his head to look south, his eyes revealing an unprecedented gleam.

That's right. If Cao Wei doesn't want me, I'll go to Han. At worst, we'll both perish. If I don't have a good life, neither will you.

Once Luo Feng understood this, the frustration in his chest vanished instantly. He personally ladled a cup of warm wine for Guan Yan and said, "Drink today, for tomorrow we may die. I'm rich today, so let's drink as much as we want. Go and call all the girls over. We won't stop until we've spent all these two gold coins."

Guan Yan got up and was about to call someone when the door was opened before he could even lift his foot. A young man walked in and whispered a few words in his ear. Guan Yan waved the young man away, pondered for a moment, and then turned around and said, "Brother Luo, my brother who went to the outskirts of the city just now brought back some news that I'm sure you'll find very interesting."

Luo Feng asked in surprise, "What news?"

Guan Yan laughed and said, "Do you know Sun Lang? He was a bandit leader who caused trouble in Luhun and Liangjia, and later joined Guan Yu's bandit gang."

Luo Feng nodded and said, "I know, there's been quite a commotion in Runan lately, giving the new governor of Runan, Tian Yu, a lot of trouble, but what does that have to do with us?"

Guan Yan said, "Sun Lang led 20,000 troops to escape into Jiangxia. They have already reached Anxi and may arrive at Xiling soon."

Luo Feng was so shocked that he stood up instantly and asked incredulously, "Is this really true?"

Guan Yan replied irrelevantly, "This is a good thing for you. If I were you, I would definitely use all my connections to seize Xiling City in advance and welcome Sun Lang's army into the city. This way, I could not only take revenge immediately, but also gain military merit and rise through the ranks in the pseudo-Han regime. Such an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone is rare."

Luo Feng was from a poor family. He was so poor that he couldn't even get justice after his chance to be recommended for a civil service position was taken away. He could only go to brothels to drown his sorrows. Discussing this kind of thing with him was like giving a dog a hot potato.

But don't forget that the poor are a group, a class, and a class with considerable power. If they unite, they can unleash extraordinary fighting power.

This was also the purpose of Guan Yan's desperate efforts to win over the poor families. Now that the opportunity has come, whether he can seize Xiling City ahead of schedule and bring Sun Lang into the city depends on whether the poor families in Xiling City can help him.

Luo Feng definitely needed to think about such a big matter, so Guan Yan left before he could finish his reply. As soon as he left the room, he summoned the subordinate who had just delivered the message and ordered, "Immediately send men out of the city to intercept and kill the messenger heading to Zhu County, and delay as much as possible the time when Wen Ping receives the news that Sun Lang has entered Jiangxia."

The moment Guan Yan received Sun Lang's message, he decided to seize Xiling City. The biggest reason he dared to do so was that Wen Ping, the governor of Jiangxia, was not in Xiling.

I'm not afraid of anything if Wenping isn't in Xiling. If I don't give you a surprise, wouldn't I have wasted my time in Xiling?

The subordinate nodded and left, but Guan Yan stopped him again and said, "At the same time, send someone to inform General Shen Yi and Sun Lang, asking General Shen Yi to prepare to go north to provide support, and asking Sun Lang to speed up his southward march. Without the support of Sun Lang's army, we cannot defend Xiling."

Without troops, Xiling cannot be defended, but if Sun Lang's 20,000 troops are allowed into the city, Wen Ping will have no chance of retaking Xiling.

The subordinate accepted the order and left. Guan Yan was about to go and make preparations when he heard the sound of a door opening and Luo Feng shouting behind him.

Luo Feng, standing behind Guan Yan, said, "Brother Zhao, I knew you were no ordinary person from the first moment I met you. Now I have a rough idea of ​​your identity. Come in and let's chat."

Guan Yan turned and went inside, closing the door behind him. He stared at Luo Feng for a long time before saying, "Brother Luo, since you've said all that, I won't pretend anymore. I'm a captain under the Marquis of Shence. Are you going to inform on me to Wen Ping or are you going to help me?"

Luo Feng, having already guessed, was naturally not shocked. Instead, he calmly raised his arm and pointed to the sky to swear an oath, saying in an unprecedentedly solemn tone: "I, Luo Feng, am a citizen of the Han Dynasty. I was born a man of the Han Dynasty and will die a soul of the Han Dynasty. Today I return to the Han Dynasty. If I betray them, may I be childless and without descendants."

The Han Dynasty was not like later times; the oath to cut off one's lineage was absolutely the most vicious, far more vicious than being struck by lightning or dying without a burial place.

After Luo Feng finished swearing the oath, he asked, "Captain Zhao, how do you want me to help you?"

Guan Yan smiled and said, "Let's make a plan!"