The Imperial Guards made a big show of cleaning up the house, but in fact not many people were killed, a total of about 70. The list of generals was mainly Zhao Chao, a family friend of Zhao Kuangyin from the Ten Brothers of the Righteous Society; the list of middle and lower-level generals was Zhao Kuangyin's former personal soldiers, who were inserted into the Iron Cavalry Army. The commanders, deputy commanders, and cavalry commanders, who accounted for one-third of the Iron Cavalry Army's generals, were all military commanders. These two types of people were Zhao Kuangyin's core forces in the Imperial Guards, and Guo Shao conducted a thorough and detailed investigation beforehand, so basically no one was wrongly accused and no one escaped, so it was a targeted elimination.
For example, Han Lingkun, a general of the imperial army, had been friends with Zhao Kuangyin since childhood, and they had a close relationship. It would be hard to feel at ease except by killing him. There was no black and white in this killing, only success and failure.
As for those who only had some friendship with Zhao Kuangyin, they were not implicated. Those who had some friendship with Zhao Kuangyin would definitely immediately draw a clear line with Zhao Kuangyin in the face of such a situation, and the so-called friendship would be gone.
Guo Shao believed that Zhao Kuangyin's core forces still posed a threat and needed to be eliminated, so he planned to do so. Otherwise, it would be too late to regret if an organized force suddenly turned against him and stabbed him in the back on the battlefield. Otherwise, he would not have released Zhao Pu's family members secretly, because he felt that women and children were not a threat, so he did not want to persecute them.
Two days later, early in the morning, he brought his men to Zhao Pu's house, ordered his personal soldiers to move out several carts of valuables, and left the empty yard without making a sound.
Go straight to Madam Chen's house. Guo Shao told Lu Chengyong who was reporting in the carriage that the last carriage was full of valuables for easy distribution, and the brothers would take it and divide it up later. Remember, everyone who sees it will have a share.
Lu Chengyong hurriedly said: Brothers, thank you for the reward.
Guo Shaodao: The rest will be handed over to Mrs. Chen’s family later.
Yes. Lu Chengyong clasped his fists and said.
Guo Shao didn't want to move this thing to his home, otherwise it would be too embarrassing. He has no pressure to make money now, no one will care if he makes some money; but after all, the things confiscated from the criminals' homes should be returned to the national treasury, and his method is completely illegal. To be honest, he is a military general and doesn't even have the power to confiscate other people's homes, so it's better to keep a low profile.
Mrs. Chen lived in the west of the city. Guo Shao happened to pass by Kaifeng Prefecture and suddenly thought of someone. He ordered the team to stop and sent someone to deliver the invitation.
The chief official of Kaifeng Prefecture went out to welcome Guo Shao in. This official should be the acting prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture. In name, the highest-ranking official is the prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture, but usually it is someone at the level of crown prince or prince. Now, there is a vacancy at the moment.
When Guo Shao arrived at the Tuisi Hall, he greeted the officials politely without putting on airs. But whether he was pretending or not, when he had a certain level of power, others would give him face, and all the officials in Kaifeng Prefecture were respectful. Guo Shao made a special trip to greet Huang Binglian who was behind him, and the officials were also extra polite to Huang Binglian.
I am a military officer, and coming here to disturb the government will not affect your official business, Guo Shaodao said.
The official hurriedly shook his head and said: No, no, it is our honor to have Marshal Guo inspect the government.
Guo Shao nodded and pondered: Today I suddenly thought of a person who was really wronged and had been in the No. 1 death row in Kaifeng Prefecture for a long time.
The injustice official's face changed.
Guo Shao hurriedly waved his hands and said: It's not a wrongful case, there is no problem with the case; it's just that the person was imprisoned unjustly, by the way, his name seems to be Dong Er.
The murderer of Zhao Sanlang, Huang Binglian reminded quietly. Only then did the officials realize what was going on.
Guo Shao said calmly: "Killing people in public, the evidence is solid, of course it is not wrong. But the victim, Zhao Sanlang, was found not long ago to have raped and killed his brother and sister-in-law. His crime is very bad. His morality is corrupt and his ethics are broken. Zhao Kuangyin was also convicted of treason and rebellion today. Dong Er should not have to pay with his life for killing such a villain."
Someone said: That being said, we still have to review and re-judge the case.
Unexpectedly, the governor ignored him and said, "Come here, release them!"
Even Guo Shao had not expected him to be so straightforward. Suddenly, the majesty of the ancient and solemn Kaifeng government office, which was famous all over the world, suddenly became like paper in Guo Shao's mind, so fragile that it was not worth mentioning. But in the eyes of ordinary people and even officials, it was a sacred and inviolable place of authority where one would be in danger of death if they entered.
It turns out that this is just the law of the court.
Guo Shao was waiting in the signing room, and finally saw a man with dishevelled hair, tattered clothes and dirty hands and anklets being escorted in. He no longer looked like a human being, and no one could recognize who he was.
Dong Erguo Shao stepped forward and asked, and suddenly a foul odor was smelled.
The man stretched out his hands to lift up the messy hair on his head that was crawling with bugs, stared at Guo Shao blankly, and after a while he said in a hoarse voice: General Guo
Ha, you still remember me. Guo Shao said with a smile.
The official next to him shouted: Quickly remove Dong Er's ankle bracelet.
Dong Er stood there in a daze, and was untied in a moment. Guo Shao said: Come with me, it's all right.
How can I be let go? Dong Er said in a daze.
Guo Shao said calmly: I didn't lose, I still remember you so you're fine. I told you a long time ago that surrendering to an official doesn't necessarily mean death, and you don't have to hide. I was right, wasn't I
General Guo Dong Er fell to his knees, hugged his legs and burst into tears. I was in prison and could only think of you. If I hadn't had a little hope, I would have died long ago. They fed me rotten rice with maggots and rotten vegetable bran. No one cleaned up the feces and urine in the prison for a month.
The official of Kaifeng Prefecture could not listen any longer and felt very embarrassed. The governor bowed and said: General Guo, I have no knowledge of this matter. I will immediately send someone to find out who did it.
Guo Shao waved his hands and said: It's good enough as long as you can keep your life. After doing such a big thing, it's normal to suffer a little.
Thank you General Guo for saving my life. Dong Er's life is yours.
Guo Shao hurriedly said, "Don't hold me anymore, let's go. You look like I really ordered you to kill Zhao Sanlang. I really was the one who got shot while lying down."
Zhao Sanlang killed my father, I will avenge him. I have said this hundreds of times. Dong Er cried.
Guo Shao turned around and walked slowly, asking Dong Er to follow him. He even limped as he walked. The skin on his face, neck, hands and feet could no longer be seen to be what color it originally was.
As soon as the group got on the carriage, Guo Shao immediately took off his cloak and wrapped it around Dong Er. Dong Er was flattered, and stared at Guo Shao with only a pair of eyes on his dirty black face: General Guo
I can't be too nice to you in front of others. Guo Shao said, he didn't mind Dong Er being smelly and dirty, and he patted his back affectionately, but Guo respected you as a man in his heart.
Dong Er's eyes were full of gratitude. He said: I am just a small person. I dare not
A hero's origin does not matter. Whether you are a great man or a villain depends on the kind of people you follow. Guo Shaodao, you don't know what you have done.
I killed Zhao Sanlang. Dong Erdao.
Guo Shao thought, Zhao San is the future Emperor Taizong of Song. You are a man whose name can only be used as a ranking. You killed people without hesitation. You are really brave. Guo Shao said: The revenge of killing one's father is intolerable even for a common man. The anger of a common man will leave two dead bodies and blood flowing for five steps. A common man is also a man with blood, a man; those who are strong on the outside but weak on the inside may not have your courage. You will follow me from now on.
General Guo Dong Er didn't quite understand what Guo Shao said, but he obviously knew that Guo Shao was really kind to him, otherwise there would be no need to pay attention to such a common man.
Guo Shaodao: Just call me big brother.
The eldest brother Dong Er looked at Guo Shao in a daze.
Guo Shao patted the wooden board of the carriage and let's go, following the original route to Mrs. Chen's house.
When the carriage arrived at Chen's house, Guo Shao introduced himself and was soon welcomed into the hall by Aunt Sun. Seeing that Dong Er was so skinny from hunger, Guo Shao didn't think much about it and asked him to go in with him. Usually there would be some snacks during the tea reception.
As expected, Guo Shao picked up the pastry and handed it to Dong Er: Eat it first, and then go back and ask your sister to make you a good meal.
Mrs. Chen's hall was spotless, and standing next to her were Aunt Sun and several women in white, who were also dressed very neatly. When they saw Dong Er's appearance, they all frowned, and some of them could not help but retching.
But Guo Shao remained calm, personally pouring tea for the extremely dirty Dong Er, and drinking with him. Jing Niang stood aside, just looking at Guo Shao coldly.
Aunt Sun asked: Who is this guest
Guo Shao said: The man who killed Zhao Kuangyin's younger brother Zhao Sanlang last year was him, called Dong Er. Today Zhao Kuangyin has completely fallen. I passed by Kaifeng Prefecture and took him out. The food in the prison doesn't seem to be very good. Look at the way he eats.
"So that's how it is. I was just thinking that anyone who can drink with Marshal Guo must be someone of some importance," said Aunt Sun politely.
Guo Shao said: I am like this after suffering a little. I hope Mrs. Chen will not blame me. The woman who came back from Youzhou that year was probably even more miserable than Dong Er.
Aunt Sun said hurriedly: "Yes, people in the world will always encounter some hardships if they are unlucky. Wait a minute, I will ask someone to prepare a table of wine and food to welcome Mr. Dong."
No need. Guo Shao said, I will leave after sitting for a while. Those carts of things seem to be worth some money. To be honest, they were just shipped from Zhao Pu's house. Since you have a market, you can sell them. However, I may need a betrothal gift in a while, so I hope Mrs. Chen can help me prepare it.
Aunt Sun said calmly: "I just took a casual look. The gold and silver items and silks are not worth mentioning. Many of the calligraphy and antiques are authentic. If all of them are used to prepare the betrothal gift, it will be a lot."
The calligraphy and painting are authentic. Guo Shao was stunned. He didn't expect that Zhao Pu's family had so much money. This guy was just a small official. He must have used Zhao Kuangyin's power for personal gain in recent years.
Aunt Sun said: Yes, a piece of calligraphy and painting is worth more than a whole cart of property. This is because the world is in chaos, and such things are not as valuable as in a peaceful world. Otherwise, their value is immeasurable. However, the big families in the southern countries are still very interested in collecting them at high prices.
Guo Shao said: The betrothal gift cannot be too high. It would be wrong if it exceeds the amount given to the wife. You can decide for yourself. The rest can be regarded as a thank you to Madam Chen for her help last time.
This is a real thank you, it is not cheap. Aunt Sun smiled and said, I can't make the decision, I will ask Madam first.
Guo Shao pondered again and said: I just came in and seemed to hear a man's voice inside.
Aunt Sun hurriedly said: He is just a guest of Madam Chen.
11 chapters are owed.