"Zǐ Yīng, Jiàn Chǔ, Diàn Chén. Wǒ, wǒ zěn me kàn de huò? Wǒ huò bù xīn sǐ le? Wǒ rú guǒ sǐ le, nǎ mǎodě?"
Wang Kuiyi watched the three people in front of him, tears of sorrow welling up.
The three people came with wine and food, setting up a table with a variety of dishes, but Wang Kuiyi had absolutely no appetite.
Because he had just learned that Sun Enbao, the prefect of Chenzhou, had died in the defense of the city!
Sun Enbao, the prefect of Chenzhou, was someone he knew. The two had been waiting for appointment in Beijing that day. They also went through the same doors as Sang Zhongtang, and separately borrowed money from the relatives of two crown princes in the capital, to come to Hunan on horseback.
So-called family members of the prince's mansion are actually the family's own businesses. Using the name "family members" is just for show.
Wang Kuiyi borrowed Hell debt from the old fifth of the Duke's family, "family members" of the former Xianfeng Emperor, and also took along a woman surnamed Zhang. According to Wang Kuiyi's knowledge, Sun Enbao borrowed more - being a prefecture magistrate was an expensive position, so he needed to borrow more money.
Sun Enbao had made a loss on his previous "rented official loan." He rented the position of a prefect, but died as a father after just a few days in office, and returned to mourn for three years. After being "released," he found himself old enough and decided to make big gains, being greedy. He thought about becoming a local landowner and living off the profits later on.
Didn't expect that he died again not long after taking office, still due to a non-violent death!
However, Wang Kuiyi is not at all envious of Sun Enbao's death now!
Dead is good! He died, and even became a loyal martyr, so he doesn't have to pay back the Hell debt to the Duke's family.
Besides, the Zheng family will not find the son of the loyal martyr to collect the debt. The Grand Qing Dynasty's iron cap princes are chasing the relatives of a loyal martyr for debt, aren't they trying to break the heritage of Xianfeng Emperor, their ancestor?
The Zheng family would not be so foolish!
But Wang Kuiyi did not kill himself with a hard heart in Daozhou City, which led to the loss of dignity and the chance to escape debts. As a result, now he wanted to die, but it was too late!
"Me, is it still in time for me to die now?"
After crying and sobbing for a while, Wang Kuiyi actually asked such a question.
And Huang Shijie, Zhang Dingxiang, and Zhang Guoliang were looking at each other in silence.
Of course, it's still acceptable for Wang Kuiyi to die now!
The best "death" has already passed, there is no more Grand Qing's loyal martyr, and it might even lead to a charge of voluntary suicide.
But voluntary suicide is better than being sent for departmental discussion!
He would have to spend money if he were sent for departmental discussion!
Although it is a dead end, one must struggle when it comes to life and death.
How to struggle? Of course, it is money and connections!
Even if you are in prison, you still have to spend money. It is free to be imprisoned in the Qing Dynasty, but if you want to live a bit more comfortably in prison, the expenses are even higher than the best hotels in Beijing!
Even to be executed at Shichikou, money has to be spent. Of course, the Ministry of Justice also has "free killing" business, but free killing is not a pleasure. A dull knife cutting the head, the crime will be very big.
Lastly, if you are locked up in prison, it's as if you're in the hands of the Duke's family!
If the Duke's family does not extract all they can from Wang Kuiyi, how could they let him die properly?
Thinking of this, Huang Shijie nodded and wanted to tell Wang Kuiyi the answer.
If Wang Kuiyi is determined to die, then Zhang Dingxiang and Zhang Guoliang here can help. It's just a matter of white blade in, red blade out!
"King, you cannot die!"
A shout suddenly broke out before Huang Shijie could speak, and then a young man wearing a green robe and a small hat rushed in from the door, rushing to Wang Kuiyi's side and staring at him fiercely: "Your Excellency Wang, you cannot die! Even if you die now, you won't be recognized as a loyal martyr by the Marquis family. They won't leave your family alone!"
They still have to bring out the entire family to help you pay off the debt, which will be a loss for both people and wealth. If you don't die, you can clear the debts and sell or borrow. Even the Marquis may be able to help you. It's impossible to get your job back, but serving in the army is still a stable option!"
Without doubt, the young man was Wang Kuiyi's concubine and an extra servant of the Duke's family, Zhang Zhongqing.
Zhang Zhongqing's situation is similar to that of Yan Fugui. Their ancestors were eunuchs who served Dorgon when he entered the capital. Because of "improper lineage," they became extracurricular slaves. Although this slave was extracurricular, he possessed authority that ordinary people could hardly imagine.
In the previous Daozhou, Zhang Zhongqing could almost sit side by side with Wang Kuiyi!
Many things, he could even bypass this imperial court-appointed prefectural official, directly give orders to the Master of Studies, and let the Master of Studies directly handle them.
However, he also bore a heavy responsibility. He had to ensure that the debts Wang Kuiyi was carrying did not default, otherwise, he would have to pay them off for Wang Kuiyi.
In order to ensure that this debt does not default, Wang Kuiyi cannot die.
Because Wang Kuiyi's death, Duke Kun is unlikely to go out to pressure Wang's orphans and widows. Duke Kun is Xianfeng's younger brother, a grand duke! He just cares about eating, drinking, and playing every day. He doesn't care where the gold and silver mountains in the duke's family come from? He should not have been asked to go out to collect debts on behalf of his subordinates.
"Marquis, can you intercede for me?"
"Yes!" Zhang Zhongqing nodded, "The marquis is the king's younger brother! Although the prefectural city of Daozhou did not hold out, the marquis did manage to bring out 800 bands of training there. The king just issued an edict for Zeng Da to set up military training in Hunan, and someone like you who is skilled in these matters would be perfect for the job."
"Yes, that's right!" Wang Kuiyi's heart lit up as soon as Zhang Zhongqing said this, not wanting to die anymore.
And Huang Shijie, Zhang Dingxiang, and Zhang Guoliang had to secretly sigh in their hearts as well.
"From ancient times, the most difficult thing is death!"
"Since that's the case, let's leave tomorrow and go to the provincial capital together!" Huang Shijie looked at Wang Kuiyi with a bit of sympathy in his eyes, but in his heart, he made a determination: The saying in 'Fanjing' is true. One must firmly control the military power!
With soldiers, there is life!
Otherwise, it will be like Sun Enbao and Wang Kuiyi!
Changsha, the headquarters of the Hunan Provincial Commandant.
In the study of Luo Bingzhang, two men were sitting opposite each other. A few months ago, Luo Bingzhang was impeached by Sai Shang'ao, who accused him of lax military preparations under his management in Hunan. As a result, the foolish emperor Xianfeng, believing in malicious rumors, issued an edict and dismissed him.
Although the edict says that he will be recalled to the capital for other duties, it does not specify what position he will be given.
What's even more hateful is that Xianfeng sent a new provincial governor, Zhang Liangji, who dawdled and took months to arrive in Changsha.
This put Luo Bingzhang in a difficult situation!
Now that Zhang Liangji hasn't arrived yet, Luo Bingzhang can't hand over his duties. Moreover, Xianfeng this scoundrel didn't make things clear in the official announcements. He didn't specify what position he would give him - whether it would be a position on the military commission or being sent to a remote post. Either way, Xianfeng was hiding the truth and making things difficult for Luo Bingzhang. Right now, Luo Bingzhang is still in office but his tea has gone cold!
He was going to roll out with his bedding and leave, but the emperor didn't explicitly state where he would be assigned. Moreover, the impeachment came from the chief military commissioner, Xianfeng's personal envoy, Sai Shang'ao! This implies that Luo Bingzhang might be recalled for punishment.
Who would dare to be close to him at this time?
"Pop!" Luo Bingzhang threw a document on the table with a slap, covering an old face with white beard and wrinkles. He vigorously rubbed it with his hand, deeply sighing: "The emperor has issued another edict. It says that Zhang Shiqin's party met up with a civil unrest in the border of Yunnan and Sichuan, delaying their itinerary. They might not be able to arrive in Changsha until a month or two later. I have to organize defenses before Zhang Shiqin arrives. I have to make sure Changsha is safe."
".But I am about to step down as the provincial governor. I was impeached by the chief military commissioner, Xianfeng's personal envoy, Sai Shang'ao, and the emperor didn't explicitly state what position he would give me. How can I raise defense funds? The gentry in Changsha City still listens to me. However, once we leave the provincial city, my words are worthless!"
This emperor wants people to be slaves but doesn't give them the power to act. I am now at a loss, what can I do?"
As he spoke, Luo Bingzhang looked at the man opposite him, who was sitting with a round face, thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a thick beard: "Ji Gao, you are always full of wisdom. Please help me come up with an idea for dealing with this situation."
