According to Li Xiang's previous thinking, this kind of person must not be allowed to stay. Even if he has made contributions to the Tang Dynasty, rewards and punishments must be clear. I can forgive some people for your contributions now, but you must also be punished for your past deeds.
However, under Xiao Yu's persuasion, Li Xiang also told Zhang Jiuli in advance that except for himself who would be exempted from punishment, his brothers and nephews must be exiled to the frontier and would not be able to come back within at least ten years. Even if there was a general amnesty, they would still have to stay in the frontier for ten years. If they could all reform, it would be their luck, but if they could not, they would just find an accident and die in the frontier.
Zhang Jiuli understood this very well. If his brothers and nephews all died outside, what good would it do him to survive? In this day and age, inheritance is all about family lineage. If there was only one person left in the family, what good would that mean in terms of inheritance?
So now that Zhang Jiuli is working for Li Xiang, he must do it beautifully and make Li Xiang satisfied. If Li Xiang is even slightly dissatisfied, even if we have to work harder for a while, we must get it done. Only the better the work is done, the less resentment Li Xiang will have towards him.
After leaving Li Xiang, Zhang Jiuli also gathered some of his men, a total of more than 40 men, all of whom were guilty. Li Xiang had already told them that if they did their job well, they would be spared from death, but if they did not, their entire family would be executed.
It is better to live a miserable life than to die. Everyone wants to survive. Now that they have such an opportunity, what they fear most is not how dangerous the road ahead is, but that Zhang Jiuli’s plan will not work. If it is a wrong plan, then they may have died in vain.
"Everyone, I've already told you what you need to do. This is Eunuch Qian, His Highness's steward, who's here to oversee us doing this. No matter which government office you were affiliated with before, or who stood behind you, that's all in the past. Now all we have to do is focus on the task at hand. As long as you all do your job well, His Highness will definitely not treat us unfairly. Eunuch Qian, what do you have to say?"
When Zhang Jiuli was speaking, he had prepared a long speech, but seeing that these people had no patience to listen, he also understood what was going on. He had been on the chopping board for a while and his head might fall off at any time. What's the use of your guarantee to us? Of course, only the guarantee from His Highness would be useful.
But these people are too low in rank and have no chance to see Li Xiang at all. Now the eunuch chief steward of His Highness appears. He is also the closest person to His Highness. If this chief eunuch Qian can say a few words, then our lives will be truly saved. It is much better than you talking here for half an hour.
Qian Ping also understood what was going on. In addition to monitoring this guy, Li Xiang had told him very clearly when he came that he should help in any way he could. Of course, he had to be smart. Taking the current situation as an example, he definitely had to help.
"My Lords, everything Lord Zhang said is true. I hope you will do your best to serve His Highness."
Qian Ping doesn't need to say anything else. If he says more, it will be equivalent to the harem interfering in politics. Although there is no explicit rule prohibiting this in this era, if someone catches him, he will not be able to explain it in the future. What's more, Zhang Jiuli has said everything he needs to say. We just need to stand up and testify that what he said is true.
"Thank you, Master General."
Dozens of people knelt down in a crowd, and Qian Ping nodded calmly. He had seen many scenes bigger than this in the capital, but this was also a big thing he had done independently, and it was a military and national affair that he could help with. At this moment, Qian Ping was very happy in his heart and really hoped that he could get this thing done well.
After disbanding these people, Zhang Jiuli led his men to the outside of the city. At this time, Chengdu was sealed off and everyone passing by had to be inspected, so people in the mountains could not enter.
Zhang Jiuli also has a villa outside the city, which is his secret base. If it weren't for saving the lives of his entire family, he wouldn't have given this place away. Now just treat it as his base of operations.
When Zhang Jiuli came back, there were already several people waiting there. Judging from the clothes they were wearing, they must have come down from the mountain.
The chieftains have their own accomplices in Chengdu City. Zhang Jiuli is not a fool, so of course he has to bury his own people in the mountains. If Li Xiang wants to do this now, it may not be so easy, after all, there is no communication between the mountain and the foot of the mountain.
But Zhang Jiuli has been an official here for so many years. If he can't even arrange a few spies, then he is really incompetent. He and the chieftains use each other to make money together, but they don't trust each other. Even though they are now in-laws, there are still some things that involve fighting.
"Greetings to the master."
The two guys knelt down on the left and right, and spoke Chinese a little stiffly. Qian Ping knew that these two people must be natives of the mountain. Zhang Jiuli was indeed capable and could make the natives of the mountain work for him.
When the two looked at Qian Ping, they were a little confused. You know, in the past, they always met in a separate room, and no one else would be here except the two of them and Zhang Jiuli. What was going on today?
"This is Steward Qian from the palace. Have you met the Steward?"
After Zhang Jiuli said this, the two of them understood. If they had any news, they should just tell him directly. The general manager was one of them.
Qian Ping smiled and nodded. Judging from the current situation, Zhang Jiuli had no intention of carrying him on his back.
"What's the situation on the mountain? Ever since Chengdu closed the road, people on the mountain should be on high alert, right?"
What Zhang Jiuli wanted to know most was the situation on the mountain, but he had been there for a long time, and the two men had never had a chance to come down, which meant that their lives on the mountain were not easy. After Chengdu blocked the road to the mountain, the people on the mountain immediately realized that there was a problem.
"In reply to your Excellency, both sides of the mountain roads are currently closed, but those on the mountain don't know what's happening in the city. They've also been asking their spies in the city, but it seems there's been no response. Several of the chieftains met a few days ago to discuss this matter..."