Just when Zhang Heng used the topic to punish Li Yi, smoke and dust filled the air in the distance, and a group of officers and soldiers rushed towards them quickly, with the banner of Cao Minglei written on the leader's flag.

Cao Minglei was the commander-in-chief of Baoding, with a first-class official position. Although Zhang Heng had his command talisman to control him, the power of his official rank was incomparable.

When the next group of cavalry galloped over, dust hit his face, Zhang Heng frowned, a bit of displeasure flashed in his eyes, but he endured it.

Cao Minglei was wearing mountain armor and an iron helmet. His burly figure was sitting upright on a horse. He looked like a wild beast that wanted to feed on people, causing the surrounding officers and soldiers to take a few steps back unconsciously.

Cao Minglei glanced disdainfully at the skinny officers and soldiers next to him, turned over and dismounted, and the armored riders behind him held down their weapons and followed, and the momentum was quite impressive.

Zhang Hengnai was a civil servant and had lived in the court for a long time. It was rare for him to see such a scene.

He calmed down his nervousness, stiffly raised his hands and said, "General Cao, why are you here?"

Cao Minglei laughed loudly, cupped his hands and said: "I heard that the imperial envoy was coming, but I didn't have time to go and greet him. No, when I heard that Mr. Zhang was coming, I rushed over immediately."

Hearing this, Zhang Heng showed a smile on his face and said: "How dare I trouble the General Soldier to mobilize troops and troops like this?"

Everyone around them was looking at the more than a thousand battalion soldiers waiting in formation in the distance. They saw red robes and black armor, in order, standing side by side, very majestic.

Cao Minglei smiled nonchalantly and said, "It's not like it's a waste of time and effort. It's just letting the sons and gentlemen gradually entrust the master, so that they can follow the orders in the future."

The two chatted for a while, Zhang Heng was both gentle and gentle, but there was no trace of the anger that had just broken out in his voice.

Zhang Heng and Cao Minglei walked over together. When they saw Li Yi, they couldn't help but frown and said, "Li Yi, are you aware of your guilt?"

Li Yi was still guessing why Cao Minglei came. When he heard the question, he said directly: "I wonder what crime you are talking about?"

Hearing that Li Yi still refused to plead guilty, the anger in Zhang Heng's eyes rekindled, he glanced at Cao Minglei next to him, and shouted coldly: "Since you don't know, I will give you some time to think about it.

Zhang Qifeng."

Zhang Qifeng, whose cheeks were swollen, ran out quickly.

"Arrest Li Yi and put him in the Fucheng Yamen to wait." Zhang Heng said coldly.

He was too lazy to argue with Li Yi. The most direct way to deal with such low-ranking officials was to use power to suppress others. If Li Yi resisted at this time, it would be disobedience and disrespect, which would be a serious crime.

Zhang Qifeng had been waiting for this moment for a long time. He found ropes from around and tied up Li Yi with a smirk on his face.

But just as he started to take action, he saw a group of burly figures standing in front of him. Before he could react, he only felt a pain in his chest. He flew backwards in embarrassment and rolled on the ground for a long time before he got up.

The surrounding officials and soldiers did not expect this scene and were all stunned on the spot.

Zhang Heng's face was extremely gloomy. He looked at Cao Minglei and said coldly: "General Cao, why are you doing this?"

It was Cao Minglei who made the move, and he was the only one who dared to make a move at this time.

Cao Minglei patted Li Yi's shoulder and said in a low voice: "Master Zhang, why are you doing this? How can you arrest Li Yi at this time?"

Zhang Heng originally really thought that Cao Minglei came to pay homage to him, but in this situation, it was obvious that he came to escape for Li Yi.

Thinking of this, Zhang Heng's face showed a bit of anger, and he stared at Cao Minglei and said: "General Cao, Li Yi disobeyed and violated my orders. Such serious crimes would be beheaded in the army. I will be beheaded."

Now the officials want to arrest him and make him repent, isn’t that okay?”

"No." Cao Minglei answered simply and directly, looking at Zhang Hengdao: "Now the more than 100,000 victims of the disaster in Baoding Prefecture are all related to Li Yi. If you arrest him, what will happen if a civil uprising is triggered?"

Zhang Hengqi's face turned livid, and he gritted his teeth and said: "If there is civil unrest, I will bear the responsibility with determination."

Cao Minglei shook his head again, "You bear it? When the time comes when all the people are devastated and Baoding Mansion is in chaos, will you bear it? Li Yi has a heavy burden on him, and I will never allow you to act so recklessly."

Zhang Heng looked at Cao Minglei with an angry face, gritting his teeth and wishing he could eat this soldier.

Cao Minglei was not afraid. Instead, he looked at Li Yi and said, "Why did you disobey Mr. Zhang's order?"

Li Yi said: "The officers and soldiers hurriedly took over Anmin District and clashed with the victims, killing and injuring several people. The subordinates were worried in their hearts, fearing that civil unrest would occur, so they disobeyed orders and wanted to enter Anmin District as soon as possible."

Hearing Li Yi say this, Cao Minglei's face relaxed, he patted Li Yi's shoulder hard, and said loudly: "You are doing this to stabilize the situation in Baoding Prefecture, but to be loyal to the country. I don't think you will come to Mr. Zhang."

You will be blamed, so go and apologize."

Li Yi was not stubborn. He looked directly at Zhang Heng and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I just care about the victims and have no intention of contradicting you. I hope you will forgive me."

Before Zhang Heng could speak, Cao Minglei pulled Li Yi towards Anmin District and said as he walked: "Master Zhang has a kind heart, and he is the prime minister's heart, so he will not blame you."

Zhang Heng's face turned livid when he heard this, and he looked at Cao Minglei with gritted teeth. He never expected that this rough-looking soldier could be so cunning.

After doing this, if I bring up the old things again in the future, I will be criticized by others.

Zhang Qifeng looked at Li Yi who was accompanying Cao Minglei as he walked away. He leaned over and asked, "Sir, will Li Yi still be arrested?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Heng slapped him in the face and angrily shouted: "Why are you arresting me? Go and take over Anmin District."

Zhang Qifeng covered the left side of his face and left with a depressed look.

Zhang Heng looked at the backs of Li Yi and Cao Minglei with vicious eyes. He had just arrived at Baoding Mansion today, and they dared to humiliate him like this. It was really too arrogant.

It seemed that he had to find a way to put Li Yi to death.

Thinking about these things, Zhang Heng led the people towards Anmin District.

When Li Yi walked to the entrance, the original road between them was blocked by various debris. A group of farmers holding wooden sticks and hoes stared at the officers and soldiers around them vigilantly, walking around in panic.

Before Li Yi could reach the door, he was recognized by the victims. A group of victims immediately cheered: "The little benefactor is here, the little benefactor is here."

The victims who had been hiding all came out. They looked at Li Yi eagerly, hoping that their little benefactor could help them and help them drive away these hateful officers and soldiers.

Li Yi climbed up the debris and walked into Anmin District.

The victims swarmed Li Yi in the middle and began to ask questions in a noisy and chaotic manner.

"My dear benefactor, is it true that the officers and soldiers outside are going to take over Anmin District?" asked one of the victims.

Li Yi was silent for a moment and said: "The imperial court sent the imperial envoy Zhang Heng here. Mr. Zhang ordered to take over Anmin District. There is nothing I can do."

When they heard that officers and soldiers were actually taking over Anmin District, the victims immediately exploded.

They have often heard about the misdeeds of officers and soldiers, not only robbing and stealing everywhere, but also harming women from good families. They are worse than animals. If you let such people control you, it will be more terrifying than death.

Thinking of this, Li Yi, a disaster victim, suddenly knelt down, grabbed Li Yi's clothes and begged: "My dear benefactor, you can't leave us. The lives of my family of five are all entrusted to you."

"Little benefactor, are you really going to leave us behind?"

The victims knelt down one after another, and for a while the entire Anmin District was kneeling in large numbers, all of them tearfully begging Li Yi not to leave them.

Li Yi looked at these victims. Among them were elderly people, children who were not yet underage, and pregnant women who were pregnant with their offspring. These people were piled on the ground and begging him with pleading faces.

, and it’s impossible not to be touched.

But Li Yi understood that this matter was not his decision now. Zhang Heng came here under the emperor's order. He represented the current emperor and the entire Ming Dynasty, and he could not stop him at all.

Li Yi stepped forward to help the kneeling victims, but every time he lifted one up, the victims would kneel down again. They knew that only Li Yi could help them at this time and lead them to live well.

Government officials and imperial envoys are no different from savage beasts in their eyes.

The credibility of the Ming government has long been worthless in the eyes of these people.

Looking at the victims kneeling down, Li Yi also felt uncomfortable in his heart, feeling like needles pricking him.

He was really powerless. Zhang Hengnai was an imperial envoy, and he was a sixth-grade servant, and he was also a casual official, so he had no real power at all.

Just now, I impulsively broke into Anmin District. If Cao Minglei hadn't arrived in time to rescue me, I would have been taken to the cell now. How could I have the ability to change Zhang Heng's order?

However, thousands of victims fell to the ground and begged, their voices sad, and some old men burst into tears. They grabbed the hem of Li Yi's clothes and refused to let go, pleading hoarsely that they could save one of them.

Looking at the densely packed victims kneeling on the ground and the old man pleading at his feet, Li Yi was heartbroken, but she really had no choice.

At this time, Cao Minglei came over, looked deeply at the victims lying on the ground, and couldn't help but sigh: "The hardship of life has reached such an extent, but it is a pity that the court still turns a blind eye and refuses to pity the people."

After Wanli, wars continued and famines continued for many years. In order to raise money and food, the imperial court repeatedly increased taxes, and it was true that it was unwilling to show mercy to the people.

Li Yi looked at the victims, his face full of helplessness and sorrow.

"Zizheng, don't be sad. This is a situation that cannot be changed by one person." Cao Minglei sighed and said quietly: "You have done your best to make so many victims believe in you. The rest is

It’s no longer you and I who can change.”

Cao Minglei was surprised that Li Yi could get the support of so many victims, but this time the court and the emperor asked Zhang Heng to come in order to limit the power in Li Yi's hands. The hundreds of thousands of victims in Baoding Prefecture would never give in again no matter what.

Li Yi takes control.

Li Yi and Cao Minglei both understand this.

At this time, Zhang Heng, who was behind him, entered Anmin District surrounded by a group of officials and soldiers. He was wearing a crimson official robe and being surrounded. Naturally, the victims knew that this man must be the new imperial envoy.

Suddenly, some victims shouted angrily, "Repay my benefactor!"

One person started, and the other victims shouted, "Repay my benefactor."

"If the government is unscrupulous, it will be difficult for us to survive."

"When tigers and wolves come here, we will fight back until we die."

When the Ming Dynasty was founded, the atmosphere of the Han Dynasty increased. Later, Zhu Yuanzhang gave the people a lot of rights in order to fight corruption. Therefore, the people of the Ming Dynasty were not as callous as the Qing Dynasty, but were extremely kind and righteous.

At the moment, the victims of the disaster were shouting loudly, and their words became more and more sharp. Some people even directly cursed the officials as dogs, tigers and wolves, simply treating the government and the court as enemies.

Seeing the victims like this, Zhang Heng's face turned red and white, and he gritted his teeth and roared: "These untouchables treat me and the imperial court as nothing. They are simply treasonous!"

"Your Excellency, please calm down. There are hundreds of thousands of people affected by the disaster in Baoding Prefecture. If a civil uprising really occurs, Your Excellency will definitely be blamed by the Emperor, so we must focus on maintaining peace of mind." At some point, a man wearing a silk robe stood in front of Zhang.

Sideways.

Although Zhang Heng was very angry at these untouchables, he also knew that he could not be impulsive, otherwise something would happen and his career would not be guaranteed.
To be continued...