Fifteen twenty-five copper coins buy one heart

  Farewell Second Master, Qi Guan Shi and Zhu Yuan Zhang, Yang Chao returned to the side house, in Qi Guan Shi's small room.

  Qiguan Shi praised Zhu Yuanchang endlessly: "This time, it's really thanks to you for coming up with such a great idea. Alas, Second Master is just too impulsive, if he had actually fought the county magistrate, that would have been terrible! I'm afraid this matter will have to be reported all the way to the Xi'an Prefecture, who knows how many big shots will be alarmed, just thinking about it makes me nervous."

  Zhu Yuanzhang stood quietly without boasting.

  Now, looking at him is more and more pleasing to the eye. If he had a daughter, it's likely that he would consider marrying her off to Zhu Yuanzhang. Poor Qi Guan Shi doesn't know that hundreds of years ago, Zhu Yuanzhang was once a soldier under someone named Guo Zixing. Guo Zixing looked at Zhu Yuanzhang just like Qi Guan Shi looks at him now - more and more pleasing to the eye. Later on, he even married his adopted daughter to Zhu Yuanzhang. That woman became the famous Empress Ma of the Ming Dynasty, also known as Big Foot Empress.

  However, as soon as Qiguan saw Yang Chao, he felt uncomfortable in his heart. Before, no matter how he looked at Yang Chao, he thought it was pleasing to the eye, but since Zhu Ba entered his field of vision, this Yang Chao became more and more annoying.

  "Yang Chao, Zhu Ba!" Qi Guan Shi hummed: "You two go gather some men, this time we need a bit more, our destination is Chengcheng County Town, which is Zhang Douyao's old nest. Even with Wang Er and Zhu Ba, these two particularly good fighters, we can't be careless. At least bring 70 or 80 people over. Also, from here to Chengcheng County Town it's a full 50 miles, walking will take at least a day, on the road we need to prepare some food... I'll give you some time to arrange, five days later we set off."

  Some friends may find it strange to see this, but is there anyone who runs tens of miles to fight? Don't say it, it's true! Not only in ancient times, but also in modern times, two farmers from mountain villages would fight, first walking tens of miles on the mountain road, then making a ruckus at the entrance of the other village before returning. This kind of thing often happens.

  Maybe some people will ask, is it really okay to fight like this? Isn't it against the law? The answer is of course it's against the law, but even if it's against the law, the farmers still want to fight! Because whether it's ancient judges or modern judges, they all have a headache when dealing with mass brawls between regions. As long as no one dies, they usually let it slide and just compensate for some medical expenses to settle the matter.

  Zhu Yuanzhang and Yang Chao returned to the side house, it was almost time for dinner. The long and short workers of the Ma family had already finished their day's work and returned to the side house to wait for dinner. There were many people moving around in the side house, and under the shade of the trees, there were several old farmers cooling off, and several rough-handed and big-footed peasant women were searching for their husbands in the crowd returning home.

  Yang Chao loudly shouted to the long and short workers: "Are you going to fight again? Five days later, go to Zhangjia Village in Cheng City. Who wants to go together? Qiguan said that those who go will have meat to eat and money to reward."

  After a few shouts, most people ignored him, only three of his old buddies who had followed him for many years approached him, smiling and saying: "Yang Chao, we'll go with you."

  Yang Chao rolled his eyes... What's wrong with this atmosphere? In the past, whenever I shouted, there would be at least a dozen or twenty people who came over. Why are there only three monkeys today? He took a closer look and almost burst his lungs in anger. All the long and short workers had gathered around Zhu Ba's voice, asking in unison: "Zhu Ba brother, what happened? Why do you want to fight again?" Zhu Ba explained with a smile, and the group of workers immediately shouted: "So that's it! Zhu Ba brother, we'll go with you and beat up those fools!"

  Yang Chao's heart tightened, this tone is not right, now Zhu Ba is in a higher position than me in Qi Guan Shi's mind, and he can also get the support of these long and short workers. After Qi Guan Shi is transferred to the inner courtyard, will I still have a place as the new head of the outer courtyard?

  He was consumed with jealousy, watching Zhu Ba gather a large group of thugs. The flames of envy in his heart burned brighter and brighter... Damn it, I have to teach this kid a lesson, or my position will be completely lost.

  Yang Chao glanced at the three dead parties beside him and said in a low voice, "Follow me, let's go outside to talk." The four of them left the courtyard and turned to the edge of the field outside, finding a ditch with no one around, and squatted inside.

  Yang Chao said viciously: "Brothers, have you seen Zhu Ba's current prosperity? He wants to squeeze me out from beside Qi Guan Shi. Later, when the side hall selects a new manager, there will be no place for me. If I don't get the position, I won't be able to take care of you three either. Quickly think of a way to deal with him."

  Three sworn brothers looked at each other, one of whom, named Li Chunjiu, grinned and said: "Yang Chao, this matter... how can we three fools help you make a decision? But don't worry, we are on the same page as you. If you want to deal with Zhu Ba, just give us an order, I, Li Chunjiu, will wait for your word."

  Yang Chaowei thought for half a day, and with his limited intelligence, he really couldn't think of any good ideas. He picked up his fist and was about to charge forward, but he didn't have the guts. Even if he won against Zhu Ba, it wouldn't necessarily affect Zhu Ba's status in Qi Guan's eyes. However, as the saying goes, "A fool may sometimes hit upon a good idea." After thinking for a long time, Yang Chaowei finally slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "I've got it!"

  "What should we do?"

  Yang Chao laughed and said, "This time going to Chengcheng County to fight is Zhu Ba's idea. If we lose this fight, it will be a loss of face for our Ma family, and Second Master will definitely blame him. Moreover, Qi Guan Shi also wants to go, if the fight is lost, Qi Guan Shi can't escape being beaten up either... At that time, Zhu Ba's position will not be guaranteed, haha."

  The three sworn brothers were startled, and even Lian Qiguan was taken into account. If they were recognized, they would be in trouble. However, that Li Chujiao had a big temper and forced himself to respond: "Brother Yang Chao is really smart."

  Yang Chao smiled and said, "After dinner, when everyone else is resting, the four of us will sneak out and go to Ren Village tonight. We'll spread the word that Zhu Ba wants to bring people over to fight, so the Zhang family will definitely prepare a trap in advance. When Qi Guan Shi and Zhu Ba bring their men over, they'll fall right into the Zhang family's trap."

  "Good!" Li Chujiao hastily replied.

  "Go ahead and have lunch first, then gather here after you're done." Yang Chao jumped out of the ditch and ran towards the cafeteria. His three sworn brothers exchanged a few glances with each other and also ran into the cafeteria.

  Li Chujiao suddenly said, "I have a bit of stomach pain... you two go eat first, I'll just go to the restroom and come back..." The other two didn't suspect anything and headed towards the dining hall.

  Li Chujin glanced around and found no one noticing him, so he crouched down and ran towards Zhu Yuanzhang's small house.

  At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang was also planning to go to the dining hall for dinner. Suddenly, he saw Li Chujiao rushing into the house and shouting: "Zhu Ba Ge, Yang Chao that scoundrel has indeed made trouble..."

  It turned out that during the last time they split the bill in the dining hall, Li Chujiao was moved by Zhu Yuanzhang's charm and volunteered to be his follower. However, Zhu Yuanzhang did not rush him to show his loyalty, but instead ordered him to continue following Yang Chao, monitoring Yang Chao's every move, and if he found anything unfavorable to himself, report it to him immediately. Who would have thought that the hidden nail that was laid at that time would finally come in handy now?

  This is also the fate of Yang Chao's misfortune. Who would have thought that in this kind of rural-level low-level struggle, Zhu Ba would also use the counter-espionage plan, a high-level tactic. For Zhu Yuanzhang, who has seen big waves and ups and downs, even the smallest enemy must be treated with full force, and cannot relax vigilance against the enemy just because the enemy is a trivial matter.

  Someone like Yang Chao, a minor character, would never have thought that he would encounter an opponent with such deep intentions in his lifetime. He is destined to lose very grievously, so grievously that even the directions of east, south, west and north are unclear.

  After listening to Li Chujiao's words, Zhu Yuanzhang smiled lightly: "I was worried that there was no suitable way to thoroughly defeat Yang Chao. Since he wants to seek death himself, I will send him on his way. Li Chujiao, you have done a good job. From today on, you don't need to follow Yang Chao anymore. Follow me openly and honestly. When I am promoted to be in charge of the Imperial Court, you can also enjoy the benefits with me."

  "Oh, wait..." Zhu Yuanzhang said as he took out 25 coins from his pocket and placed them in Li Chunjiu's hand: "You were there when I distributed the reward money last time, you should know that I only had 25 coins in total. I'm giving all of it to you, consider it a thank you for helping me out. Those who help Zhu Ba will be rewarded handsomely."

  Li Chunjiu took the twenty-five copper coins, and his eyes suddenly felt a warmth... The last time he was rewarded with money immediately replayed in his mind, Zhu Ba at that time indeed only got twenty-five cents of reward money, and Zhu Ba's poverty was something everyone could see, apart from this copper coin, he shouldn't have any other belongings, now he actually gave it all to him... This leader is really more worthy of following than Yang Chao, when he followed Yang Chao, he had never been treated like this before.

  "Thanks, Brother Zhu Bage!" Li Chunjiu held the copper coins and rushed out of the door with tears in his eyes.

  Zhu Yuanzhang watched Li Chujiao leave with a gentle smile, then the smile at the corner of his mouth slowly disappeared, turning into a cold and sinister smile. Although twenty-five copper coins were all his property, in fact, they meant nothing to him. The emperor's learning, first and foremost, is to control one's heart. Being able to buy someone's heart with such a small amount of money was a huge profit...

  This man named Li Chujiao can be reused from now on, after this incident, if you tell him to go east he will go east, if you tell him to go west he will go west, and even going through boiling water or walking into fire is also a matter of course.

  Zhu Yuanzhang slowly stood up and no longer hurried to the dining hall for dinner, but instead lifted his feet towards the small courtyard where Qi Guanshi lived.

  The sun sets in the west, a golden yellow all over the fields. The side yard is bustling with activity, many long and short workers are gathering towards the dining hall, Zhu Yuanzhang steps forward step by step towards Qi's small house, he thinks to himself: Yang Chao is finished, the position of managing the side yard has fallen into my hands, the next target can be re-planned...